Teams for World T20, Asia Cup to be picked by 15 February

[Basil]

Teams for World T20, Asia Cup to be picked by 15 February​

The Indian squad for next month's ICC World T20 Championship and the Asia Cup starting later this month, both to be held in Bangladesh, will be picked during the upcoming Irani Cup clash in Bangalore.

"The squad for World T20 championship and the Asia Cup are to be picked during the Irani Cup match in Bangalore (from February 9-13 between Ranji champions Karnataka and Rest of India) where all five selectors would be present. The deadline to choose the World T20 team is February 15," BCCI sources told PTI today.

The preliminary probables' list for the March 16-April 6 World T20 Championship has already been announced by BCCI. India, who won the inaugural World T20 Championship in 2007-08, will open their campaign against arch rivals and 2009 champions Pakistan in a Group 2 fixture on March 21 at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. They will play their remaining second stage league fixtures on March 23 (v West Indies in Mipur), March 28 (v first stage qualifier in Mirpur) and March 30 (v Australia in Mirpur).

The two semifinals are scheduled on April 3 and 4 at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium followed by the summit clash at the same venue on April 6. The five-team Asia Cup limited over (50 overs) tournament is to be held from February 25-March 8 in two venues (Fatullah and Mirpur).

 

[Basil]

The Indian team for Asia Cup and World Twenty20 will be chosen on Tuesday when the national selectors meet in Bangalore, where the Irani Cup is being played between Karnataka and Rest of India.

 

[Basil]

For the T20s, Raina is a shoo-in, and Yuvraj Singh is a key player too. Both have been struggling in the ODIs of late, but are likely to be part of the World T20 side. Bowling will again remain a problem, and it will be interesting to see if India pick Binny, who was considered good enough by Rajasthan Royals to retain.

 

[Basil]

In the ODI side, the bowlers remain the perennial problem, but it is the parallel faltering of batting under pressure of high totals conceded by the bowlers that is becoming a new headache. Suresh Raina has scored only one fifty - that too against Zimbabwe - in his last 24 innings, and was dropped midway during the series in New Zealand. His place is likely to be debated after the experiment to send him up to No. 4 also failed earlier in the season. Stuart Binny, who bowled only one international over and didn't get to bat in the only ODI played in New Zealand, did his chances of going to Asia Cup no harm by smacking 115 not out off 107 balls in the Irani Cup a day before the team selection.