India A manager says coach Duncan Fletcher told selectors to look ahead

Mighty impressed

“Fletcher joined the team midway into the tour and was very impressed with what he saw. He told Vikram Rathour,the selector who accompanied the team,that it would be advisable to build for the future. Dhawan,Pujara,Sharma and Raina are top talents and it’s time to invest in them. There are Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane as well. They now know the conditions and the experience they have gained from this series will put them in good stead when India will tour South Africa in the winter,” Ganguly told The Indian Express. Also Read: A tour de France

“Fletcher also said it would be important to give the youngsters a longer run so that they can play without looking over their shoulders. He believes Indian cricket will be safe at least for the next three years if these young players are persisted with,” Ganguly added. Also Read: As career gathers pace,Ishwar Pandey looks to add some to bowling too

As far as pace bowling is concerned,Pandey impressed Fletcher “with his ability to swing the new ball and reverse the old one”. The advice for Shami Ahmed is to “work harder”. Spinner Parvez Rasool too was told by Fletcher to put in extra hours in the nets. He also credited Pujara for creating a very good atmosphere in the dressing room.

Not everyone happy

A section of the BCCI,however,was unhappy with the team management’s decision to rest five players in the second unofficial Test,which allowed the hosts to square the series. “It was Rathour that convinced Fletcher to rotate the squad. He said we had nothing to lose,having won the triangular limited-overs series and the first Test. His argument was that it was more important to give every player a fair opportunity to help them get a feel of the conditions. “It was logical and the coach accepted it. I must make it clear that there was no discontent. But for Pujara’s unfortunate dismissal (run out),we wouldn’t have lost the Test,” Ganguly asserted.