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Friday, Sep 29, 2006
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Challenge ahead for `Colonel'

G. Viswanath

The vast experience he brings in should come in handy

Mumbai: Dilip `Colonel' Vengsarkar has an eye for talent. The next two years (he is eligible for election for a third year in 2008) will offer him an opportunity to look for that in the domestic tournaments.

The 50-year-old may not vacillate to support a deserving case, but like his predecessors he will strike a conventional balance between youth and experience. Much interest is on whether he would agree with the current policy of carrying out `trial runs' in one-day internationals.

Vengsarkar made his debut for India after a smashing innings in an Irani Cup match in Nagpur. The two batting legends then — Sunil Gavaskar went before him to face the new ball and Gundappa Visvanath went after him — and Vengsarkar remained in their shadows for long.

Observers would see him as an old-fashioned type that can be relied upon to deliver, but having been associated with the system, especially in the process of grooming youngsters, he would be receptive to ideas.

Matter of conjecture

Fortunately, he will work with Rahul Dravid, who has been named captain till the 2007 World Cup. He also enjoys rapport with Sachin Tendulkar — they were involved in a match-winning partnership on a spiteful pitch against Hyderabad in a Ranji Trophy match more than a decade ago.

Whether he will initiate a move to bring back Sourav Ganguly and give the former India captain another chance is a matter of conjecture.

Ganguly is not in the 14-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and so Vengsarkar will have time. Ganguly and Vengsarkar were in the team that toured Australia in 1992.

Kiran More's committee gave indications that Ganguly was a closed chapter. Unless the Bengal southpaw produces spectacular performances, status quo is likely to be the order.

Not new to selection

The former Chairman of the BCCI's Talent Resource Development Wing (TRDW) for three years, Vengsarkar brings in a vast experience of 116 Tests and 129 one-day internationals. He would not be new to selection committee proceedings, having been part of the Mumbai and West Zone committees for eight years.

He was responsible for spotting Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Avishkar Salvi, in the West Zone team for the Duleep Trophy and hastening their induction into the national team. A more recent case is Rohit Sharma.

Vengsarkar spotted Sharma on the Mumbai maidans. But was not in a position to pick him in the Mumbai squad last year because he was not in the MCA's selection panel. Apart from the West Zone players, he was the guide to many juniors like Suresh Raina, Rudra Pratap Singh and V.R.V. Singh.

Differing ideas

The former India captain should have been the automatic choice from West Zone once Aunshuman Gaekwad completed his tenure as selector. But Vengsarkar's views that the selection committee should consist of three or four members did not go down well with the BCCI. Also, he strongly felt that the selectors should be paid for their work. Again the BCCI was not enthusiastic about his suggestion.

The MCA, of which he is the Vice-President, obtained his consent to be part of the national selection panel. The BCCI President, Sharad Pawar, told him to take up the responsibility. Vengsarkar's duties as national selector will start with the Challenger Series for the N.K.P. Salve Trophy in Chennai from October 1 to 4.

Vengsarkar has had a distinguished career for Mumbai and India, runs the Elf-Vengsarkar Cricket Academy, has kept in touch with the game as Chairman, TRDW and has been a State selector and administrator. All worthwhile experience, but his task as Chairman of India's selection committee will undoubtedly be a challenging one.

Gavaskar hails decision

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar, who will step down as chairman of the NCA Board, welcomed the appointment of Kapil Dev in his place.

Though he was not informed of the impending action by the BCCI, Gavaskar told The Hindu that Kapil would bring in fresh ideas and give a new direction to the NCA. "I have been telling the BCCI over the last two or three years that since I travel a lot they should look for someone else. In fact one should welcome the BCCI decision.

"Kapil can really a give a thrust and the NCA can go forward in a big way. Kapil is younger than I and the NCA is for young cricketers who are going to be the future of Indian cricket and it's better to have a younger man at the helm,'' said Gavaskar.

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