Thursday May 29, 2008
NEW DELHI (espnstar.com) - Chairman of Selectors Dilip Vengsarkar has said that a place in the Indian team will only come through merit and not because of either youth or experience.
Speaking to ESPN STAR Sports, Vengsarkar made it clear that "nobody will be there (team) on the basis of his age".
"He has to be there on merit, form and fitness is very important. I don't believe in age and youngster, we pick the best team for India," he added.
The Colonel's comments is sure to put to rest speculations about the youth and experience rift that has often been brought up in the media in the last one year.
The team selection for the tri-series in Bangladesh is scheduled for Friday and Vengsarkar will be sure to pick players in form even though he admits that some of them have had a strenous time over the last year.
"It is tough for some of the boys who have been playing for the last one year continuosly. Right after the IPL, the team will go to Bangladesh and then to Pakistan and then to Sri Lanka. There is a lot of cricket to be played, I only hope they remain fit and retain their form," he said.
Asked about whether there were some names on his list from the ongoing Indian Premier League, the Colonel said, "It is difficult to assess players in a four-over spell or in 10-12 overs of batting. But the temperament of a player can be assessed and the tournament has provided the opportunity to us."
He singled out Punjab pacer Manpreet Ghoni, who is turning out for the Chennai team in the IPL, and said he was "impressive".
"He has to do well for his state in the four-day game to prove himself. If he's focussed and plays hard then he will play for India very soon."
Vengsarkar also impressed the need for player discipline. "You cannot be indisciplined. You are the ambassafor of the country and you must know how to behave."
On his tenure, the former Indian captain said that barring the loss in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, it has been a "happy" time for him at the helm of the selection committe. "When I took over we were number seven on the ICC rankings. India is now the number two team in Test rankings.
"I hope we will be number one very soon, but it is important to stay at the top for a long time," he added.
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