ARTICLE: Challenger tourney promises ... (S.Gavaskar) - 18 Mar 1995
Challenger tourney promises to be exciting - S.M.Gavaskar
That those in authority at the Board of Control for Cricket in
India are far more receptive to ideas that help Indian cricket is
evidenced by the prompt acceptance by the Board to have 36 of the
top players play against each other for the India No. 1 Chal-
lenger Trophy.
This will be a trial for the selection of the team for the Asia
Cup to be held in Sharjah in early April. For years the crick-
eters of the country had been asking that the Duleep trophy
should be played in a league format so that players from the
weaker zones would get more than one opportunity to show their
skills.
It was only accepted a couple of years back that the Duleep tro-
phy would be a league format and look at the difference it has
made to those who used to get only one chance before their team
was knocked out. They are all playing with confidence of not hav-
ing to show their skills in only one outing and the general stan-
dard in their zones has improved beyond recognition. Quite simply
the more you play, the more experience you get.
This can be seen from the number of players from the teams that
do not figure in the last four of the Ranji championships that
are in the 36 chosen for the India No. 1 Challenger Trophy. These
players have now got the stage to perform before not only the na-
tional selection committee but before a vast television audience
that goes beyond the country. Some may be daunted by that fact
and that is immediately an indicator of a temperamental shortcom-
ing, while others may actually revel in it and perform in a
manner that will instantly pitchfork them into the international
limelight.
For many in the probables this tournament is the platform to cap
a good season. The India Senior side is naturally the side that
everybody expects to win the tournament. But we have seen how
strong sides have been surprised when they have relaxed even a
little bit. So long as the players in the India `A` and India `B`
side do not play believing that they cannot win then they have a
chance. The moment you do not believe in yourself that is the
end.
It is good to see many players in the teams who are looking to
make a comeback to the Indian team. Especially Robin Singh and
Atul Wassan. Both were never fully utilised in the opportunities
they got and were benched for many years but with consistently
good performances they have forced themselves back in the reckon-
ing.
Among the newcomers, Muzumdar, Joglekar, Dharmani and Vikram
Rathore seem exciting prospects and if they carry on their
present form they should be in the national team soon. The
important thing to remember is not to get disheartened if one
is not selected but to keep trying. As the saying goes, if the
selectors do not hear your knock on the door then break the door
down with your performance so that the selectors not only hear
you but see you!
The tournament will also allow the reserve players in the senior
side, who have gone on tours but not been in the final eleven,
the chance to show that their places in the squad are deserved
and that they actually deserve a look-in to the playing eleven
rather than simply be tourists or accompanying the drinks trolley
to show the families back home watching on TV what the Indian un-
iform looks like.
Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Kambli, Prabhakar are known to not only
Indian cricket followers but the cricketing world as well.
Hopefully, through this tournament and later through the Asia
Cup, Khoda, Muzumdar, Joglekar and all will also be names
on the tongues of those who follow the game with a passion in our
country.
It promises to be an exciting tournament and the prize money is
substantial so the cricket will be of a high quality. I am look-
ing forward to seeing the up and coming stars lock horns with the
established stars of the current team. I simply can`t wait.
Copyright: Professional Management Group
Contributed by cric8wala (sidi@iastate.edu)
