Former India head coach Ravi Shastri and Pakistan's legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram have expressed their surprise over India's selection after they suffered two consecutive defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.
After Team India suffered a 6-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their second Super Four match on Tuesday, Shastri slammed the selectors for overlooking the experienced pacer Mohammad Shami for the Asia Cup 2022 despite his excellent ability to deliver with the new ball.
Ravi Shastri said in the post-match show on Star Sports: “When you need to win, you got to prepare better. I think the selection could have been better, especially for the fast bowlers. You know the conditions here. There's not much in it for the spinner.”
He continued, “I was quite surprised that you came here with just four fast bowlers (including Hardik). You needed that extra one… someone like Mohammed Shami sitting at home and cooling his heels baffles me. After the IPL he had, for him not to be able to make the cut is... Obviously, I'm seeing something different.”
Meanwhile, Wasim Akram was not also happy with Shami's exclusion from the Indian team for the ongoing Asia Cup, and questioned whether head coach has any inputs in selection of the team. During the discussion, Akram asked Shastri: “Does a coach have input in selecting the team?”
To which former India coach noted: “He does. He's not part of the selection. He can contribute by saying 'this is the combination we want then it's up to the captain in the meeting to take that forward.”
Shastri signed off by saying, “When I say planning... There should have been one extra fast bowler. One spinner less in the 15-16. You don't wanna be caught situation where one guy has a fever and then you have no one else to play. You have to play another spinner which can be embarrassing in the end.”
