‘This is a mistake’: Srikkanth slams ‘fear-driven’ Indian team for Afghanistan series | cricket news

NEW DELHI: India’s decision to field a full squad for the upcoming Afghanistan T20I series has drawn harsh criticism from former cricketer Kris Srikkanth, who believes the selectors missed a valuable opportunity to expose more youngsters to international cricket.Srikkanth described the selection as a “mistake” and suggested that recent defeats in Ireland and England had influenced the selectors to play it safe rather than experiment with the team.India suffered a 0-2 defeat in the T20I series against Ireland before being beaten 0-4 by England in July. With the Afghanistan series offering three matches in familiar conditions, Srikkanth felt it was the ideal scenario to give fringe players a longer career.“After the series defeats in Ireland and England, the selectors decided not to take any chances and chose a full-strength team for Afghanistan. They are firing on all cylinders, but this is a mistake. It is against teams like Afghanistan that you need to test the youngsters. Instead, you have chosen a full-strength team out of fear,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

“A desperate move” after the defeats of England and Ireland

Srikkanth also questioned why the selectors had so quickly returned to an experienced combination after using the Zimbabwe series to test players outside the regular set-up.“It seems like a desperate move after the defeats of Ireland and England. But this team is almost the same one they chose for England,” he added.India has named a 15-member squad for the three T20Is, with Shreyas Iyer continuing as captain and Tilak Varma as his deputy. Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Varun Chakaravarthy are among the experienced names included, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has retained his place after an encouraging series in Zimbabwe.The Afghanistan series will be played in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17, with all three matches scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.However, Bumrah’s return is subject to fitness clearance, as are Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana. Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, has been ruled out after suffering another setback during his rehabilitation.

Srikkanth questions ‘party fitness’

The former India captain also expressed concern over the inclusion of players whose match fitness is yet to be tested.“These four have not proven match fitness. So on what basis are they subject to fitness? Just because you prove your fitness in the Bengaluru CoE, are you fit? That’s how Harshit Rana went to England, and then what happened to him there? So match fitness is important,” Srikkanth said.His comments come as Bumrah, Nitish, Sundar and Rana are awaiting fitness clearance before their participation in the Afghanistan series is confirmed.For Srikkanth, however, the biggest issue is opportunity cost. Instead of using the three-match series to assess emerging options, he believes India has responded to its recent setbacks by returning to a familiar combination.

India team for Afghanistan T20Is

(NOTE: *Subject to physical fitness clearance)