Professionals sidelined

NAGPUR, Oct 28: The dream of professionals aspiring to represent Central Zone in Duleep and Deodhar Trophy championships may not material...

NAGPUR, Oct 28: The dream of professionals aspiring to represent Central Zone in Duleep and Deodhar Trophy championships may not materialise if the zonal selection committee sticks to its decision of not including any of the professionals in the Central Zone squad that will play in national tournaments.

The immediate victim of the decision would be off-spinner Ashish Kapoor, who has moved from Punjab to Rajasthan this season. Other professionals in the Central Zone 8212; Chandrakant Pandit, who is a leading Madhya Pradesh player, and Vidarbha captain Lalchand Rajput 8212; would have nothing to lose if they are not selected. Both are past their peak and in their late 30s.

On the other hand, Kapoor, with age on his side, is battling to regain a place in the national squad. Even if the off-spinner performs extraordinarily this season, he may not find a place in the Central Zone team until the zone changes its selection policy. Kapoor also faces a tough competition from Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan andVidarbha8217;s Preetam Gandhe as far as Central Zone is concerned.

Last year, it was Rajasthan skipper Praveen Amre, who despite his good show, was not picked for Central Zone. The former Test player 8212; still aiming to stage a comeback 8212; shifted to Mumbai again and made himself available for Ranji Trophy.

The then Central Zone selection committee, headed by Rajasthan8217;s Kishen Rungta, decided last November that no professionals would played in Duleep and Deodhar teams. Justifying the decision, Rungta had said the policy would help expose promising youngsters to higher level of domestic cricket.

Ageing professionals, if selected in the team, might hamper the chances of talented youngsters who, on the basis of their performance in the Duleep and Deodhar Trophy tournaments, could find their way to national side, Rungta had said.

The chairman of the Central Zone selection committee and one of the National selectors, Anil Deshpande, who is in Nagpur to watch the Uttar Pradesh-Vidarbha Ranji Trophy leaguematch, told The Indian Express that he was aware of the decision. 8220;I feel that a professional, who is younger and talented, deserves a berth in the team if he performs consistently. The Central Zone associates will decide on this issue and we will have to follow their policy decision.8221;