Pushing players to national side the main task: Robin

Robin Singh, the India A coach, has said that helping the players in his squad make it to the seniors' squad for the World Cup will be his prime goal on his return to an international assignment. Robin, who coached India under-19 in 2004 and worked with Hong Kong later, said his task would be to "push" players on the verge of making it or attempting a comeback to the national side.

"I will definitely push the guys who are certain to make the senior side. It is a question of motivating them and ensuring they cement their places in the team for the future," Robin told PTI before leaving for Abu Dhabi for the six-nation EurAsia Series. "I need to make the most of the opportunity as coach in terms of interacting with the boys on international levels once again. I need to help them progress and confirm their places in the senior side at a later date. Most of them have been playing at international level.

"It is a question of trying to help them because the World Cup is around the corner and everybody has an opportunity to make it."

India A are to play the six-nation EurAsia Series tournament against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Holland in Abu Dhabi from April 22 to May 5. The team will be led by Venugopala Rao, who is already at the venue playing for India against Pakistan in the DLF Cup. Robin Uthappa, Rudra Pratap Singh and Dinesh Karthik, who have already played for India, are among other members of the team.

"It is a worthwhile and good exposure for the boys who have not rather established themselves in the seniors' team. They have something to look forward to because they have a long season ahead. There is so much of international cricket played these days, one does not know who is going to be injured. In such situations, the boys in the India A team could be lucky to progress into the senior side."

Robin said his task would be then to make sure that India A players are ready for international cricket when they are picked for India. "I have to toughen them up. A player from Australia A is good enough for Australia's national side. Likewise, anyone in the India A side must be good enough to stuff into the senior side."

Robin, known for his athleticism and powerful on-side strokes, played in 136 one-dayers and scored 2336 runs in the 1990s. He said Uthappa, who impressed as an opener in the final one-dayer against England, had a good chance of being in the World Cup team. "The World Cup is one year away and Robin has lot of international matches before that. He has the ability to make the most of the chances that come his way and stay as a permanent member of the senior side. He can make it to the World Cup."