The Hindu : Sport : Vengsarkar optimistic about Irfan Pathan's fitness

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Vengsarkar optimistic about Irfan Pathan's fitness

Special Correspondent

ON A DIFFERENT WICKET: Dilip Vengsarkar plays on an artificial pitch as Dilip Sardesai and Asif Adil, MD, Diageo India, look on. — PHOTO: PTI

Mumbai: Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of the BCCI's senior National Selection Committee, is optimistic about the outcome of Irfan Pathan's fitness test in the West Zone-Central Zone clash in the All Star Series Deodhar Trophy match to be played at Motera, Ahmedabad on Sunday.

"Irfan was declared unfit for the four matches against Sri Lanka, but he appears to be fit now. After returning from South Africa he played one match against the West Indies at Baroda,'' said Vengsarkar at the launch of a web-linked fantasy cricket contest by Johnnie Walker, the regional partner of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007.

Strong message

Vengsarkar went to the extent of dropping hints that Irfan — who is in the Indian team for the World Cup — may be replaced should the selectors not be convinced about his fitness.

"Yes, we can replace him on the fitness count,'' said Vengsarkar who appeared keen to send a strong message to the bowler and spur him on to bowl well in the opening match of the inter-zonal tournament renamed All Star Series.

Warne-McGrath factor

When asked if the absence of Brett Lee, doubts about Andrew Symonds and the thrashing New Zealand handed out to Australia in the recent three-match series has somewhat diminished Australia's chances to make it a three-in-a-row title win, Vengsarkar said: "There are no favourites in a one-day tournament. Australia was a very consistent team because they had two match winners in Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Warne is not there now and McGrath is 37 plus. Honestly I don't know how McGrath will shape up in the West Indies.''

Johnnie Walker's `Red Label Super Scorer contest' can be accessed on its website www.keepscoring.com. The winner of the online contest will win an eight-day cruise in the Caribbean during the World Cup competition.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport