The senior national selection committee is gearing up for a crucial meeting on September 5, following India’s group match against Nepal in the ongoing Asia Cup. This meeting holds immense significance as it will determine the final squad for the upcoming World Cup. The deadline for teams to submit their squad lists to the ICC is also set for September 5. To make this decision, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar is expected to join the team in Kandy, where the meeting will take place.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the India vs Pakistan fixture, there remains uncertainty due to the looming threat of rain. The weather forecast predicts moderate to heavy rainfall over the next few days. While India didn’t have a training session on Thursday, they are scheduled for practice on Friday evening. In an encouraging development, rain didn’t significantly disrupt the ongoing match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with only a brief drizzle interrupting play.
India squad announcement
Regarding the squad selection, India initially named a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup. However, they must reduce it to 15 for the World Cup. This task poses a challenge, especially in the context of batting depth. With one batter and a seam bowling option expected to be omitted, the battle for the final pace bowling spot is likely between Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna. The team management is torn between the attacking middle-over capabilities of Krishna and the batting contribution of Thakur, who can prove pivotal in crunch moments.
India’s recent struggles with lower-order batting have highlighted the importance of a well-rounded squad. While Pakistan managed to secure a victory against Afghanistan thanks to their tail-enders’ contributions, India lacks that luxury in white-ball cricket.
Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, is also expected to arrive in the hilly terrain ahead of India’s clash with Pakistan. His presence is significant not only for match preparations but also for the squad selection process, indicating the gravity of the decisions to be made.
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