Prabhakar Ready For Another Stint In International Cricket (2 Nov 1996)

2 November 1996

Prabhakar ready for another stint in international cricket

Former Test all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar has claimed that he still had the capability to deliver the goods if selected in the national squad.

``Cricket-loving fans still want to see me in the national team but unfortunately, the cricket managers do not,`` Prabhakar said in course of a press conference last night.

He charged the cricket managers and administrators with frequently making changes in the national team in the last couple of years which, he said, ``had done a great harm to Indian cricket.``

The former Test player urged the selectors to desist from the practise of constant chopping and changing.

Citing the example of South Africa, who made very few changes ever since their return to international cricket and are at present a match winning combination, he said the current Indian squad could do well in the years to come if players were not picked and discarded at random.

On the Indian team`s performance in the ongoing Titan Cup triangular series, Prabhakar said the team`s failure had affected skipper Tendulkar`s batting.

``Sachin is under tremendous pressure and is not able to play his natural game,`` he said.

Prabhakar, who was in Amritsar in connection with the sales promotion drive launched by Naturence Research Labs Private Limited, said his first love was still cricket.

Prabhakar, who has assumed the role of a business executive for the company, which is manufacturing beauty care products and is headed by his wife, said ``I manage to mix business with cricket and enjoy both the jobs.``

Prabhakar, who is currently captaining Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, said the non-performance of the Delhi cricket team had affected the overall game of teams from the north zone.

Despite the talent, the north zone players were not making it to the national squad and the cricket managers should look into this, he said.

He complimented former Indian skipper Bishan Singh Bedi for having moulded Punjab into the strongest cricket team in the zone.

Source :: Rediff On The NeT (https://www.redifindia.com)