MANGALORE: Syed Kirmani, the former chairman of selectors and India stumper has welcomed the Test and one-day international squads selected to represent India for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh.

The present selection committee headed by Dilip Vengsarkar has done a good job of blending youth with experience under the able leadership of captain Rahul Dravid, he told mediapersons here on Wednesday.

In the city as part of a promotional activity for his employer, the State Bank of India, Kirmani said there is no need for any drastic change in the Indian squad following the World Cup debacle.

Wise move

The selectors have acted wisely in giving break to youngsters, while `resting' seniors such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly from the one-day side and `dropping' other seniors including Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan.

Demands that a `young side' be sent to Bangladesh was shortsighted, said Kirmani adding that if such a side were to lose to the host in the ODIs and Tests, it would inflict further humiliation on the nation. Kirmani also of the view that it was not the end of the road for the seniors in the squad who have been either `rested' or `dropped' and that they could still make a comeback on the strength of their performances.

Pathan issue

Kirmani was, however, critical of the way the team management and the selectors have handled Irfan Pathan. Noting that he was drafted in to the squad as a genuine fast bowler, Kirmani said the move to try and develop him in to an all-rounder has backfired. Moreover, he was getting surfeit of advice from all and sundry. The move to send him back from South Africa was certainly ill advised and not in Pathan's interest and has only dented his confidence, he added.

On a move by Zee group to float a parallel cricket league in the country, Kirmani said it would only add to the excitement. "Cricket has become such a big circus and innovation has become the name of the game," he said.

Asked if India needed a foreign coach, Kirmani opined it would largely depend on what the players want. The choice of Ravi Shastri as cricket manager for the Bangla tour is a welcome development, he noted.

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