The background:
With Karun Nair and Abhinav Mukund being named in the India ‘A’ squad for the tour of South Africa starting next month which will coincide with India’s tour of Sri Lanka, speculations are high that the duo will not be a part of the senior team for the Test series in the island nation. Mukund has been named in the squad for the two four-day games while Nair has been included in both the squads- four-day games as well as one-day series involving Australia ‘A’ and the hosts.
The story:
The first Test between India and Sri Lanka will commence on July 26 at Kandy while the first game of the tri-series between India ‘A’ and Australia ‘A’ starts on the same day. And while general consensus says that the duo will not get a place in the senior team, the man who matters the most thinks otherwise. Chief selector MSK Prasad has insisted that the duo is still in the running to make it to the squad for the upcoming Test series.
“Karun and Abhinav were chosen in the India ‘A’ sides keeping in mind the needs of that team. But they are by no means ruled out of the Indian team’s tour of Sri Lanka. We will be picking the squad only on July 11 and in case any of them is picked, he will be replaced in the India ‘A’ team. It’s simple,” Prasad told Sportstar.
Prasad further said that the selection panel is awaiting the fitness report of openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay. Both the players are sidelined since the end of the home series in April but are expected to get fit in time for the upcoming series.
“We will await the report of Indian team physio Patrick Farhart on them. We will also coordinate with Andrew Leipus at the National Cricket Academy. We will take a call during the selection meeting,” he said.
Prasad also had a say on why MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh are getting the backing from the selection panel despite being looking off-colour for quite some time now. And while he admitted that every player has got the right to play for the time as long as he is determined to do so, he said that the selection panel will not hesitate in taking any step for the betterment of the team.
“Every player has a right to play as long as he is fit, has the hunger, and is performing. But it is up to the selectors to decide what is good for the team in the long run,” he said.