Bangladesh Tri-series, 2008

Indian selectors to meet on May 30 to pick tri-series squad

Nagraj Gollapudi

May 22, 2008

	Will the selectors retain the squad from the CB Series for the tri-series in Bangladesh? © Getty Images

The Indian board selection committee will meet in Mumbai on May 30 to pick the squads for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan next month, Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, confirmed to Cricinfo. The selectors, who will be watching a few IPL games before taking their decision, are expected to pick a 15-member squad for the tri-series, scheduled to begin on June 7 in Dhaka.

"We will be there [at the IPL] for the last two league games in addition to the semi-finals and finals", said Bhupinder Singh, a national selector. He didn't rule out the possibility of taking into account some of the top Indian performers in the IPL. "Definitely, anybody who will be doing well might find a place."

However, not all the selectors believe IPL form matters in national selection. Sanjay Jagdale, the Central Zone selector, said IPL performances would not be taken into consideration because India already have a stable one-day squad.

Recently Sourav Ganguly, who wasn't picked for the CB Series, joked: "I hope the selectors are watching", after his all-round performances secured a couple of wins for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Vengsarkar said he was "impressed" by Ganguly's performance. "He has done extremely well. Yes, we have been watching him, especially his brilliant fielding, with great interest."

But an influential board member said it was very difficult for Ganguly to make a comeback.

Considering the low-profile nature of the tri-series, the selectors might be inclined to opt for rotation, which Jagdale said was possible only if the panel felt the players needed rest. "There will not be much experimentation as we already have a young side and if at all there are changes, we will give a player some exposure in place of another who needs to be rested", Jagdale said.

The IPL's relentless schedule, where players have been traveling and playing non-stop for close to two months, means fitness will be a key aspect for selection. Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman of the selection committee, had recently said "form and fitness" will the key parameters when they pick a squad. Jagdale added that the fitness will be discussed, "like we always do, and it will important".

The selection committee has a difficult task of picking a squad especially keeping in mind India's triumph in the CB Series in Australia. That team, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had performed admirably in hostile conditions and Dhoni had a bigger say in the selection matters. It will be interesting to see whether the selectors make changes to that victorious squad.

Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

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