Where is the place for Azhar — Borde

Azharuddin had said that he was extremely disappointed at not being considered for the tour to Australia and said he was confident of making a comeback. Mr Borde said ”When the team is doing well the question of discussing any other player’s name does not arise. Where is the question of his entry?”.

The former India skipper recently told a television channel that he was pained to hear that the selection committee did not even considerhis name. ”It was really embarrassing,” he said. ”I am extremely disappointed with the way things have gone. I certainly think that I deserved to get a chance.

But I guess the selectors know better,” he said. Regarding Azharuddin’s chances of coming back Borde said he had an open mind. When asked whether the selectors considered Azharuddin past his peak Borde refused to comment.

”I do not understand one thing, in other countries when new faces are introduced there is always a favourable response from all quarters. You are praising other teams when there are new faces but in our case you are criticising the committee for bringing in new blood,” he said.

When asked why the selection committee did not inform Azhar about his omission personally considering his decade-and-a-half’s service to the Indian team, Borde said that it was the prerogative of the selectors.

Azharuddin, who scored an unbeaten double hundred for Hyderabad against Goa last week, had said in a television interview that he hopedto make lot of runs in the domestic season and added that he had worked on his batting problems.

The former skipper refuted the criticism that he stayed aloof and created a lot of misunderstandings within the team.

—UNITED NEWS OF INDIA