Wake Up Call


It is a now an official standard procedure to send back who ever is not performing. The returning with thanks ‘Irfan Pathan’ is all set to come back home to play a ranji trophy match or two before taking on the giants at the world cup. Good idea. The practice or otherwise Irfan gets bowling out at small timers or the left outs for the sake of playing for the zones will help him face the masters of the game at world cup. At least this is what the selectors or the team think tank feels.

The fact that exposure to international cricket is necessary for a player of Irfan’s caliber rather than sending him to basics, and start all over again. This is nothing but experiment of another kind. Greg Chappell has the reputation of toying with the ideas that does not work and the whole world knows it. He first sent Irfan as an opening batsman, the sent him at three, then at five and tried to use his potential as a batsman and never bothered to improve or concentrate on his bowling.

This clearly is an indication that the top order batsmen, barring Rahul Dravid proved to be out of form and failed to cling on and make runs. This just made Irfan’s job too intricate, and he lost his sense of understanding as a bowler.

Agreed that the non-performers be sent back and punished. However, what were the selectors doing when Sehwag and Tendulkar constantly failing to perform.

Selectors wake up and ask the travel agents to book two more tickets for Sehwag and Tendulkar. The flights will be too happy to fly them back.