Asia Cup: No problem in selecting the probables

For once the limelight has eluded the composition of the team and selection for an important tournament namely the Asia Cup. Ever since the Hansiegate scandal broke, such cricketing matters have taken a back seat. Perhaps after the crucial ICC meeting gets over on May 3, things will settle down and events connected with the game proper will regain their importance.

The BCCI has said that the list of probables and the captain for the Four-Nation Asia Cup tournament to be played at Dhaka from May 28 to June 7 will be announced on May 5. The question that one would like to ask is will there be any surprises? With 11 players - Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Azharuddin, Jadeja, Robin Singh, Saba Karim, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad and Nikhil Chopra - who played in the recently concluded tri-nation series at Sharjah already secured of a place, there will be very little scope for new faces.

All the same, will the selectors be bold enough to experiment with a young side giving exposure to talent which has flowered in the domestic season. Some of the notable performers have been from Tamil Nadu's Sridharan Sriram and Hemang Badani, Mumbai's Vinod Kambli, Uttar Pradesh's Md Kaif, Punjab's Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Ravneet Ricky. Will they recall axed opener VVS Laxman who had a terrfic run this season on the domestic circuit?

On the bowling front, they have Mumbai's pacer Santosh Saxena, the spin duo of Rajesh Pawar and Ramesh Powar, all rounder Amit Bhandari from Delhi, Railways' Murali Kartik and left-arm seamer Shulab Srivastava. The other question is whether Javagal Srinath who has said that he wants to opt out of playing one day internationals will be considered for selection.

As far as the second wicket keeper's slot is concerned, there is only one claimant - Karnataka's Tilak Naidu who has had an outstanding season.

From the 26 names mentioned in the article, I would narrow the probables field down to the following 20 from whom the selectors can pick the final 14: Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Azharuddin, Jadeja, Robin Singh, Saba Karim, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Nikhil Chopra, S.Sriram, Hemang Badani, Vinod Kambli, VVS Laxman, RS Sodhi, Santosh Saxena, Rajesh Pawar, Murali Kartik and VST Naidu.