What happens behind closed doors in Indian team selection?

To say that the national selectors of the Indian team are a confused lot would be to pay them a compliment. The combined wisdom of Messrs. Shivlal Yadav, Sanjay Jagdale, Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra and Chandu Borde, led quite ably by the last-named, has come up with a squad to play the forthcoming three-Test series in South Africa. To say that they selected the squad would also be a compliment, a compliment one cannot pay when the squad contains five medium-pacers, two spinners, two wicketkeepers, two openers and five middle-order batsmen.

So the selection committee has picked three people in 16 who, in all likelihood, are not intended to play a single Test match. Is that what selection is about? Or is it more about accommodating various players from different zones, juggling things just so?

Let's start at the very beginning. Shiv Sunder Das books his place; there is no need to think even twice about the most consistent and compact opening batsman India has produced since Sunil Gavaskar. With Sadagoppan Ramesh ruling himself out due to injury, the selectors have turned to Connor Cecil Williams. The Baroda left-hand opening batsman would have rejoiced but momentarily. The fate that almost certainly awaits him should never befall any cricketer trying to make a name for himself in international cricket. On a fast, bouncy track, Williams will be blooded against the likes of Shaun Pollock, Nantie Hayward, Makhaya Ntini and possibly Allan Donald. Not exactly the same as playing in the Irani Trophy against Tinu Yohannan and Co. on a dust strip in Nagpur. And, young Williams, we know what happens to openers who fail in Test cricket.

Ask Ajay Jadeja, Devang Gandhi, Wasim Jaffer or Hemang Badani; they'll tell you.

Back, then, to the story of the bouncy tracks. The Indian team will need to play six batsmen. A stumper always helps. That leaves room for four bowlers. And India have seven to choose from. One spinner will certainly play - Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble can jostle around for that spot. For the remaining three spaces, Javagal Srinath's place is guaranteed, thanks to the years of hard work he has put in on lifeless pitches.

The two left-arm seamers, Zaheer Khan and Asish Nehra, will be pitted against Ajit Agarkar and Venkatesh Prasad. Of these, it is certain that captain Sourav Ganguly will back at least one of the left-armers. On pace and form, Zaheer Khan must be tipped as the favourite. The remaining spot, then, goes either to Nehra, for his ability to swing the ball late, or to Agarkar, for his ability to surprise batsmen with extra pace and bounce. Where does this scenario leave Prasad? Does India really need an aging war-horse to carry the drinks?

Oh! but Prasad is not even secure in his position as refreshment vendor. He has to fight off Virender Sehwag, till recently tagged a one-day specialist, and Deep Dasgupta, who has only just acquired that label.

So the selection committee has picked three people in 16 who, in all likelihood, are not intended to play a single Test match. Is that what selection is about? Or is it more about accommodating various players from different zones, juggling things just so? Would it be completely out of place to ask why there are exactly three players each from the East and North Zone, while South and West are rich enough in talent to admit five players each?

But no, one must believe that there is no quota system in operation. One must believe that this team was selected with the best interests of Indian cricket at heart. Come, come, Mr. Borde, surely you don't think the public are that naive?

A former selector who worked closely with Borde once said of the man, "You should see how he operates. He's no simpleton. His moves are always shrewd and well calculated." So once that statement rules out plain incompetence, what reasons can be attributed to this kind of selection?

That is for each person to decide.

The squad: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Connor Williams, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Sameer Dighe, Deep Dasgupta, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath.