On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. Only three fast bowlers were named to the current squad: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan, with pacer Deepak Chahar named as a hold player.
Former India National Cricket Team selector Kris Srikkanth has stated that if he had been the chairperson of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, experienced right-arm fast bowler Mohammed Shami might have been in India’s Asia Cup 2022 squad.
Noticeably, the veteran pacer and death over specialist Jasprit Bumrah was also recently dropped out of the squad adhering to the back injury and also Harshal Patel being ruled out for this tournament, many audiences and fans expected the experienced right-arm fast bowler, Mohammed Shami to return in the squad since his last T20 international match last year in the World Cup. However, many fans were shocked not seeing his named name in the list.
And all the while, former India selector Kris Srikkanth has stated that he’d have chosen Shami over leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the squad.
“In my team, Shami was literally there. If I was the Chairman of the selection committee, I think Shami would have been there and probably, I would not have gone with Ravi Bishnoi. But I still believe that Axar Patel was a serious contender in my team. It would have been a big toss-up between Axar Patel and Ashwin,” Srikkanth told in a conversation on Star Sports’ show ‘Follow The Blues’.
Former India selector Srikkanth also explained that the India National Cricket Team’s squad for the Asia Cup is quite decent, but India is indeed one pacer short. He was also delighted to see Deepak Hooda included in the squad, but underwhelmed to see Axar Patel left out.
“I think the squad is pretty good but I think we would need one more medium pacer. We are going with one medium pacer short. Two wrist spinners is fine. I feel bad for Axar Patel, who has missed out. I am very happy for Deepak Hooda – he can bowl a bit, he’s a good hitter and he’s a good striker of the ball. What I like about Deepak Hooda is that he’s a good striker of the ball, he’s a flirter. Otherwise, this squad is fantastic, only feel bad for Axar Patel.
“I still believe that he’s a good bowling all-rounder, maybe in Australia conditions. I am not going for just the Asia Cup, but yes, this must be a blueprint for the ICC T20 World Cup also.” He stated.
The Asia Cup 2022, the tournament’s 15th instalment, is set to take place from August 27 to September 11. The entire event will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).