'You’re playing with the career of a cricketer’: Sandeep Patil slams recent India selection policies

Former selection panel chief Sandeep Patil has come down heavily on the current committee’s move to drop players from the India national cricket team on the basis of Yo-Yo tests after having already announced the team.

The ex-India cricketer felt this process has destablised the balance of the team and could have a negative impact on a player’s career.

“Look, I am not against fitness being a criteria,” Patil was quoted as saying by Mid-day. “...But I find it very absurd that a player is dropped for failing the Yo Yo test after he has been picked in the squad. In this way, you are disturbing the balance of the team; you are playing with the career of a cricketer,” he added.

Senior pacer Mohammed Shami and batsman Ambati Rayudu were omitted from the squad for India’s upcoming tour of United Kingdom after they failed the all-important test.

The team’s last-minute changes to the squad based on the Yo-Yo test have not gone down well with Patil, who was replaced by incumbent chief selector MSK Prasad in 2016.

“The toughest competition is T20 cricket and throughout the tournament (Indian Premier League) the players have not suffered any problems,” Patil said. “Suddenly, they are out. What I also find absurd and wrong is that the trainer will decide on these matters. Has the trainer become a selector?” he exclaimed.

Rayudu, was among the top run-getters in the IPL, but was excluded from the India squad after a failure to pass the Yo-Yo test.

Patil bemoaned the interference in selection matters from individuals outside the selection panel.

“Before each selection meeting, every selector was given a list of players who were available, fit and unfit. The selection meeting used to take place after that.

“There was no interference from the Board, captain or coach and the final decision on whether to select a player was left to the selectors alone,” he added.

Patil feels no player can be 100% fit and that there are times when chances should be taken with niggles.

Patil stressed that each player deserves a second chance. He highlighted Shami’s case citing the personal turmoil in his life as grounds for a more sensitive approach in selection matters.

“Now, he (Shami) has been through so much of late and if he is made to undergo the test when his mind is disturbed, it’s not fair. He should get another chance,” said Patil.