Mumbai: In a mysterious turn of events, the national cricket selectors today met here but did not select the team for the final two ODIs against Sri Lanka and the upcoming Australia tour, triggering speculation on the actual reason behind the postponement.
A brief BCCI release only stated the postponement of the meet without giving a definite reason for not picking the squads.
However, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel later told some waiting reporters that they wanted to see the performance of the team in the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka before finalising the squad.
“Right now, only one match is over and we were thinking of involving the other seniors who are out or some of the juniors who are out but then we came to the conscious decision to wait for another two ODIs because for three games the team is already there,” Patel said.
“And this particular injury (Varun Aaron) required a replacement which we have decided. Who else can be tried, what is the performance of the team in the three ODIs, like Rohit is sitting out, he is fit. All these things will be considered,” he added.
Asked what the selectors discussed in the meeting, which lasted three hours, Patel said they zeroed in on many aspects.
“Three hours we were discussing at length about every thing. What can be the combination for Australia. We have decided that only the Test team will be picked at some point. Either 9th or 10th after the Hyderabad game. We will also have to see if there needs to be any change for the remaining ODIs,” Patel said.
The sudden postponement raised speculation whether the Justice Mudgal Committee report had prompted the selectors not to announce the squad.
However, Patel denied that it was a reason behind the postponement of the selection.
“Mudgal Committee is a matter related to the honourable Supreme Court. First of all, we have not received the report. The matter is sub-judice. Selection committee's meeting has nothing to do with the Mudgal Committee report and we haven't been restrained by the court in that regard,” he said.
“We have time. There is still a fortnight to go for the team's departure. We have enough logistics support and we will manage it,” he said.
The events leading to the all-important meet were also confusing after two selectors gave contrasting information regarding the meeting agenda after TV reporters asked them questions.
While one selector stated that the meeting was regarding the selection of the squad for the final two ODIs against Sri Lanka, the other said that the team for the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia will be picked.
Even chief selector Sandip Patil left the the meeting half-an-hour early and chose not to speak to the waiting media, who were left guessing about the outcome till the BCCI statement arrived.
