The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Aakash Chopra breaks silence

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Aakash Chopra breaks silence

New Delhi: Breaking his prolonged silence over the selectors’ indifference towards him, India’s highest run-getter in the 2007-08 domestic season, Aakash Chopra on Monday said that he was disappointed and clueless why he was ignored for the upcoming home series between India ‘A’ and Australia ‘A’.

The Delhi opener, who scored 1339 runs at an average of 60.86 to become the highest scorer in the previous first-class season as well as the fourth highest scorer ever, said he did not know what more he could have done to secure a place in the team.

“I have proven myself against Australia in the past and was looking forward to play against them (Australia ‘A’). But I have absolutely no clue what could be the reason for not picking me after being in the loop and being called up for the camp (in Bangalore),” Chopra said.

“I am the highest run getter last season with 1339 runs and if you add limited overs runs it would tally to 1700. What more can I do to draw selectors’ attention,” he added.

Chopra scored 783 runs and emerged as the second-highest run-getter as Delhi won the Ranji Trophy title. He notched up 332 runs at an average of 332 with three hundreds at a strike-rate above100 in the one-day version and 310 runs in the Duleep Trophy, guiding North Zone to victory.

“It would have been a good opportunity for me to be in the reckoning for the series against Australia in October by playing against the testing opposition. It is sad that there is no hope now,” he added.

Australia ‘A’ will play two three-day matches and five one-day matches against the Indians led by S. Badrinath on its tour beginning on September 3 in Bangalore.

The 30-year-old had scored 239 not out for India ‘A’ side that beat South Africa ‘A’ in Delhi last September. — PTI

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