Asia Cup 2023: Ex-India player blasts selectors for including India duo

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India announced their Asia Cup 2023 squad on Monday (August 22) and there have been some much-needed comebacks of some big names.

Jasprit Bumrah has made it to the squad while batting duo KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer were also picked for the continental tournament. But it is vivid that the Indian selectors picked up both Iyer and Rahul without knowing their proper match fitness.

Both players were cleared by NCA earlier and thus KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer both were up for selection. But it is to be seen whether the duo will be match fit if they get a match in the Asia Cup. India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed on Monday that Shreyas Iyer is fully fit, but KL Rahul will be doubtful in the first couple of matches with a niggle.

Upon asked on the type of KL Rahul's latest minor injury, Afarkar couldn't confirm the location and could only assert that Rahul's injury doesn't involve his right calf, which kept him out since the middle of IPL 2023.

And amid this, former India player Madan Lal has blasted the selector and India captain for not knowing the type of injury KL Rahul is suffering.

"I don't think the selectors and team management are still sure whether KL Rahul is fit or not. What injury or niggle? They should have specified that," Madan Lal said to Aaj Tak.

The former India player also raised his question on Shreyas Iyer's fitness. The batter hasn't played a match since March and Lal reckons he should have been picked after playing at least a few matches.

"They have kept Shreyas Iyer. There's still no surety about his fitness. They haven't played any competitive cricket. They should have been picked after they had proved their match fitness. Batting in the nets and batting in the middle are two different things," he added.

The Indian team will kickstart their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2.