Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, the legendary spinners have been highly surprised with the inclusion of medium pacer Ashish Nehra in the Indian cricket squad that will be participating in the forthcoming one-day international matches and in the T-Twenty matches in Australia, starting from 12th January. Along with Bedi and Prasanna, the Indian wicketkeeper and former selection committee chairman Kiran More is also surprised with Nehra’s inclusion in the national squad.
The left arm medium pacer has got into the senior national squad after a gap of four years. And considering his recent performance in the domestic cricket, Nehra hardly gets into the first eleven of his state team Delhi. After the IPL, held in May Nehra has almost been out of the game and in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy this 36-year old bowler has participated only in one match.
Bedi speaking on the issue told over phone from Delhi on Saturday, “It has been a shock for me as well as for the future of Indian cricket that a 36-year old cricketer who is almost a discard in his own state cricket team has been included in the senior Indian squad. It is showing the ugly side of the selection committee members’ intention to bring out potential young cricketers.”
Prasanna who had also a same notion on the issue said over the phone from Bangalore on Saturday, “Inclusion of Nehra in the senior national squad showed that there is a dearth of quality youngsters in Indian cricket who can be groomed for the future. Looking forward to the future, the omen does not look good.”