Kapil to be invited for selection committee meeting

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to invite Indian team coach Kapil Dev for the selection committee meeting, it is reliably learnt. According to highly placed sources close to the Board, Kapil Dev will attend the selection committee meeting scheduled to be held in Mumbai on February 20 to select the Indian team for the first Test against South Africa to be played here from February 24 to 28.

The five selectors were not in favour of inviting Kapil Dev for the meeting. Kapil, in consultation with captain Sachin Tendulkar and vice captain Saurav Ganguly, was reported to have said 'no' to the selectors for the inclusion of Azharuddin in the team `Down Under'. The team management was also responsible for Nayan Mongia's return, who was sent as a replacement for injured MSK Prasad. The selectors were keen`to teach a lesson' to Kapil Dev by not inviting him to the meeting. Rule 32 of the BCCI's Constitution clearly says that only the five selectors, each representing his zone, and the captain will attend the meeting. However, the Board seems to have decided to continue with the tradition of inviting the coach too.

Former India managers/coaches Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal and Anshuman Gaekwad attended the selectors' meetings. Though the opinions of the captain and coach are always given importance, they have no power to vote. It is to be seen how Kapil and Tendulkar would react to the selectors' likely move to include Azhar for the first Test match. Kapil is on record as saying from Australia that Azharuddin was not a popular man in the team when he was leading the side. Considering the senior team's recent poor show, the selectors are set to include Azhar in the side, at least for the Mumbai Test.

The selectors are also watching the Challenger Trophy matches. Kapil is coaching the senior team in Ahmedabad while Roger Binny is looking after the two other teams in the tournament. The team's physio Andrew Leipus who did not return with the team to India, is likely to join the team in Ahmedabad on Feb 12.