Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned the Indian board’s decision to shortlist 20 players for the upcoming ODI World Cup. In a recent meeting, it has been reported that the BCCI shortlisted 20 players for the ODI showpiece.
Though India’s governing body has not officially named those 20 players, Pathan feels it is a small pool and the board should look to extend the same.
Meanwhile, India last won a major ICC event back in 2013 and since then they haven’t been able to go all the way in the big events despite consistently making it to the knockout stages. Pathan feels more players should be in the reckoning for the ODI World Cup.
“World Cup is still nine months away, you can’t have just 20 players and rotate them and forget about rest,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.
Pathan added that the coaches at NCA are working with 33 players and it would be good if the board has a look at them as well.
“The coaches at the NCA are in direct contact with Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and the coaches (of the Indian team). There were 33 targeted players in their list apart from the contracted list that we have.”
“So, that’s a big pool of players that we are talking about not just twenty. Twenty can’t be enough because if something goes wrong, be the injury or be their form…. because nine months is a long long time. So, you need a bigger pool of players,” the former India all-rounder said.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the 20 shortlisted players will be rotated in the upcoming matches.
India will begin their World Cup preparation against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series. The first ODI will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday.
