Shiva Joshi, Pune
The senior men’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, in order to choose India’s squad for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, will meet in New Delhi on Monday afternoon. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be appointed the team’s new vice-captain.
It’s interesting to note that the meeting will be attended by both head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma. Dravid will be present in person in Delhi, but Rohit is most likely going to participate through video conference from Mumbai.
National selector SS Das, who is now in Ireland with the Indian team, will also participate in the meeting online.
The ICC has until September 5 to choose the World Cup roster. The team for the Asia Cup may be chosen first by the selectors, although this group is likely to compete in the World Cup as well.
The BCCI hasn’t scheduled a press conference with the head selector since Chetan Sharma resigned in February, so it’s possible that Agarkar will speak to the media after the meeting.
It will also be interesting to see if India’s selectors pick a 15- or 17-member squad. Unlike the World Cup, Asia Cup rules permit a 17-member squad.
“Bangladesh and Pakistan have picked 17-member squads, but they are traveling between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, unlike India,” said a source to TOI.