Selectors have taken two gambles in Sehwag, Pathan: Nadkarni

Mumbai, Mar 17 (UNI) The selectors have taken two gambles with the inclusion of opener Virender Sehwag and left arm pacer Irfan Pathan in the World Cup squad, former Test left arm spinner Bapu Nadkarni felt.

Speaking at a panel discussion on India's chances in the ongoing World Cup in the West Indies last night, Nadkarni said the selection of out-of-form Sehwag for the World Cup was a worthy gamble taken by selectors.

''I would have taken the gamble if I had been the selector. I remember the gamble I and my co-selectors took when we chose Laxman Sivaramakrishnan in the 1987 World Cup.

''It, however, did not come off,'' the wrily-built Nadkarni said.

Nadkarni, famous for bowling 21 maiden overs on the trot in a Test match, added that the selectors were justified in taking these two major gambles.

''Sehwag is a good off spinner, who can also roll his arm over for five-six overs. If Irfan can get his swing and direction in place he can be a match winner,'' said the former cricketer.

Referring to Anil Kumble's position in the team, former Mumbai all-rounder Vasu Paranjpe advocated the inclusion of leg spinner in the playing 11.

''Kumble is 37. Selectors have taken him in the 15-member team.

But if you do not play him, there is no point in him being slected,'' he said.

Talking about the team's performance Nadkarni insisted that the batsmen should steal singles and twos to upset the opposition's rythm instead of trying to hit only boundaries.

''I am a bit worried about fielding. If that can be improved, I don't see anything wrong in this team, which I feel is capable of winning the cup,'' Nandkarni added.

UNI