"In My Team, Shami Was...": Ex-India Selector On Pacer's Exclusion From Asia Cup Squad
NDTV
Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said that Shami was literally there if he had to select the Asia Cup team
The India squad for the Asia Cup was announced on Monday and the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are back. Rohit Sharma will be leading the side while Rahul will act as deputy for the tournament that is set to begin from August 27. In their first game, India will square off against arch-rivals Pakistan. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the series due to a back injury. However, Mohammed Shami's exclusion from the squad has left a few perplexed.
Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said that Shami was literally there if he had to select the Asia Cup team. It is important to note that Shami had last played a T20I for India in the last year's World Cup and ever since he has not played the format for India.
"In my team, Shami was literally there. If I was the Chairman of the selection committee, I think Shami would have been there and probably, I would not have gone with Ravi Bishnoi. But I still believe that Axar Patel was a serious contender in my team. It would have been a big toss-up between Axar Patel and Ashwi," Srikkanth said on Star Sports' show 'Follow The Blues'.
KL Rahul returned to the Indian squad as vice-captain after recovering from injury and COVID-19. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are the two wicket-keeping options in the squad of 15. Three specialist spinners are part of the squad which includes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the two all-rounders.
"I think the squad is pretty good but I think we would need one more medium pacer. We are going with one medium pacer short. Two wrist spinners is fine. I feel bad for Axar Patel, who has missed out. I am very happy for Deepak Hooda - he can bowl a bit, he's a good hitter and he's a good striker of the ball. What I like about Deepak Hooda is that he's a good striker of the ball, he's a flirter. Otherwise, this squad is a fantastic squad, only feel bad for Axar Patel," said Srikkanth.
