**Official** Asia Cup 2012

[Cevno]

Virat Kohli as VC ahead of Gambhir is interesting and also the fact that there are only 2 openers this time.

Kris Srikkanth is speaking to the press and he is a complete moron. Arguing with reporters aggresively and saying again and again that nobody has been dropped and also that Sehwag, Zaheer and Umesh have been rested on fitness grounds. Otherwise they have been "great" players and "i can assure you no one has been dropped or even considered to be".

He presented yesterday's match as some great great victory that has put the whole tour all right and that if India doesn't qualify for the finals, it would be because of Umpiring error in the tied match where we got one ball less.

Should be sacked just for his antics today, irrespective of what else ****ing up in the past which plenty in itself.

 

[nsniks]

Virat Kohli as VC ahead of Gambhir is interesting and also the fact that there are only 2 openers this time.

Kris Srikkanth is speaking to the press and he is a complete moron. Arguing with reporters aggresively and saying again and again that nobody has been dropped and also that Sehwag, Zaheer and Umesh have been rested on fitness grounds. Otherwise they have been "great" players and "i can assure you no one has been dropped or even considered to be".

He presented yesterday's match as some great great victory that has put the whole tour all right and that if India doesn't qualify for the finals, it would be because of Umpiring error in the tied match where we got one ball less.

Should be sacked just for his antics today, irrespective of what else ****ing up in the past which plenty in itself.

Ya, according to him India has done very well in Australia.

 

[marc71178]

They probably have the team with the best form at the moment so perhaps this may be their year.

Just drubbed 4-0 at home by an England who are woeful in the sub-continent?

 

[ganeshran]

Ya Sachin will most probably retire from ODIs after this tourney.

 

[MyLord]

All three of Rohit Sharma, Raina and Jadeja still in the mix? Weird but interesting.

So only Sehwag got the chop-chop. Business as usual otherwise.

This is the team Dhoni will select for all matches (barring injuries) irrespective of form:
Dhoni
Sachin
Gambhir
Kholi
Rohit
Raina
Jadeja
Ashwin
Praveen
Vinay
Rahul

 

[Cevno]

Indian Team announced, Sehwag dropped, Yadav and Zaheer rested

MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Ashok Dinda

Manoj Tiwary is there too.

 

[Himannv]

Just drubbed 4-0 at home by an England who are woeful in the sub-continent?

Didn't follow the ODIs at all so wasn't aware. Well that changes my opinion quite a bit I suppose.

 

[ganeshran]

This is probably Jadeja's last chance to be a regular member of the team.He has been absolutely worthless on the tour

 

[Jono]

YES! Kohli vice-captain and Sehwag dropped.

Good result.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

After the England thrashing I have a bad feeling about this cup.

 

[Lostman]

YES! Kohli vice-captain and Sehwag dropped.

Good result.

Sehwag is "rested" according to Srikkanth.

"Unfortunately Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan have been asked to take rest by the physiotherapist. It is purely on injury grounds both have been rested," he said. "I can assure you that nobody has been dropped."

 

[Arachnodouche]

That reporter who got told to shut up should jumped in and pummeled the hermaphrodite's face with his microphone. What an utter jerk. Typical desi babu from my father's generation.

 

[stumpski]

Will be awful to see SRT get his 100th 100 against Bangladesh. Lets see if I have jinxed well and good.

Would be good to see him get it against Pakistan (if not, then v England in November) but yeah, 16th March does look very much like it, assuming India bat first of course. I don't suppose these games are going to be shown in the UK are they? Maybe on Eurosport if not on Sky.

 

[Cruxdude]

So what does an Indian player have to do to get dropped. Would much prefer if the selectors grew a pair and told Sehwag he played like crap and needs to start performing if he wants to stay in the team.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Would be good to see him get it against Pakistan (if not, then v England in November) but yeah, 16th March does look very much like it, assuming India bat first of course. I don't suppose these games are going to be shown in the UK are they? Maybe on Eurosport if not on Sky.

Hopefully not. That would be horrible.

 

[Prince EWS]

Second most important ODI tournament on the calender IMO and should be treated as such with full strength squads. Doesn't seem to be happening that way however.

Disappointed that Afghanistan couldn't be involved given UAE and Hong Kong have played in this before.

 

[Arjun]

I guess Sehwag is rested and carrying an injury. Maybe that explained the rotation of the openers (did anyone notice the rotation of the pacers?) and also the decision to drop him, but not other non-performers like Raina, Rohit, Jadeja and Umesh Yadav.

Yusuf Pathan's comeback is good news, but he needs to take wickets or at least be sustainable as a bowler for ten overs, just like Jadeja. Not too much worse a bowler with all the protection, and more sustainable than Raina and Rohit, both of whom were battling poor form and sending down overs. Still a long shot, as he's just had four ODs, and one major century, and just two wickets- Bengal's Laxmiratan Shukla had it much better, with a four-for in a game, and sent down ten overs often- and is a better fielder.

Dinda's back only on domestic form, and he's the only one in breathtaking form in the domestic scene. He's nothing special on the field, though- slightly better than average on the field, can't bat, and bowls between 130-135k regularly- with a poor line and length. Will be cannon fodder in the Asia Cup.

Five bowlers should be an option- Irfan, Ashwin, Praveen and by a long shot Rahul Sharma and Vinay Kumar can get runs.

 

[nsniks]

Asia Cup: I had asked BCCI for rest, confirms Virender Sehwag | News | NDTVSports.com

Virender Sehwag had asked the selectors and the Board to rest him for the forthcoming Asia Cup, contrary to media reports that the opener was dropped. It is learnt that Team India physio Evan Speechly had submitted a fitness report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prior to the national selectors' meeting at the Cricket Centre yesterday. The report deemed that Sehwag and Zaheer Khan should be rested for the Asia Cup that runs from March 11 to 22.

Even captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher told the selectors that Sehwag was seeking rest after a strenuous tour of Australia. Later, chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth called up Sehwag to seek an update. Sehwag told Srikkanth he wanted rest, but would be willing to tour Bangladesh if the selectors insisted.

Speaking from Australia

Yesterday, Sehwag told MiD DAY that he didn't want to hide an injury. Nothing to hide "I have back spasms. I need some rest. I have never kept my team management in the dark as far as fitness is concerned. "My injury is open for everyone to see. I have never hidden my injury before, or fitness problems. Even my shoulder operation was planned after consulting the then coach Gary Kirsten and skipper MS Dhoni."

Based on Speechly's report and the message from the team management, the selectors decided to rest Sehwag. It's puzzling that Srikkanth, who was aware of Sehwag's fitness-related issues, did not clear the air when asked if the batsman was rested or dropped.

It is also learnt that Sachin Tendulkar had conveyed his intention to play the Asia Cup to the management ahead of the selection committee meeting.

Injury concerns for Zak & Umesh: Srikkanth

Explaining the reason for Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav's exclusion, chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that they have been rested, but failed to furnish details of the injuries they are suffering from. However, a source in the selection committee said, "Zaheer has hamstring niggles while Umesh has been given rest after a long series." -- Sanjib Guha

 

[smash84]

They probably have the team with the best form at the moment so perhaps this may be their year.

Didn't follow the ODIs at all so wasn't aware. Well that changes my opinion quite a bit I suppose.

thankfully

 

[Jono]

Well we're officially out of the CB Series, so it's on to the Asia Cup. The only positive from that series is the fact India did something amazing to at least keep their hopes alive. Kohli was great, but Rohit and Raina didn't do enough to prove they are up to him in terms of being a guaranteed part of India's middle order in ODIs over the next few years. Too many pissy 15s and 25s and then throwing it away.

Jadeja too didn't have a great tour with the bat. Would have been nice if Tiwary got a game but India never had the luxury of being able to try him out.

Tough times in Indian test cricket was obvious back in July, but ODI cricket isn't exactly in the best place right now either. Need to step it up in this tournament.