The Indian National Cricket Team on April 15 announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Ambati Rayudu and Rishabh Pant were among the surprising omissions, and the selectors received severe backlash for the fans and cricket pundits. However, now, the selection panel headed by former cricket MSK Prasad have included them among the standbys for the premier tournament along with pacer Navdeep Saini.
Pant and Rayudu among the standbys
Prasad while naming the original squad admitted that Dinesh Karthik got a nod over Pant due to his superior wicket-keeping skills. Former India skipper called out the selection committee for snubbing Rishabh Pant while Gautam Gambhir lashed out at the selectors for Ambati Rayudu’s exclusion. This wide range of criticism might have played a significant role, and the selectors have picked both the high-profile cricketers as the standbys.
A senior BCCI divulged on the news saying that as per ICC guidelines they have named three standby cricketers. In case of any injuries, one among these three players will travel with the whole squad.
“Just like ICC Champions Trophy, we have three standbys. Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu are the first and second standbys while Saini is the bowler in the list. So if anyone gets injured, as per requirement, one of the three will be going,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Wednesday.
Three fast bowlers to travel as net bowlers
On April 15, the selectors also named three fast bowlers who will be touring with the team to provide practise to the Indian batsmen. Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan and Deepak Chahar are three pacers and if needed the management can also draft one in from them. However, the official added that if any bowler gets injured then only we will look into it. But as far as the batsmen are concerned, it will be between Ambati Rayudu and Rishabh Pant who will tour England.
“Khaleel, Avesh and Deepak are not designated standbys. In case of bowlers, that possibility is there but when it comes purely to batsmen, it will be either Rishabh or Rayudu,” the official added.
Meanwhile, the squad named is just the provisional squad, and all teams can change their side as per their discrepancies till May 22 without informing ICC. The Indian National Cricket team will take on South Africa to start their World Cup campaign on June 5 at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground in Southampton.