Don't force seniors into retirement: Ganguly urges selectors-Kapil Dev,21/9/11disagreed

Don't force seniors into retirement: Ganguly urges selectors

IANS India Private LimitedBy Indo Asian News Service | IANS

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly says it is not right for the selectors to force the senior players into retirement.

Ganguly said that seniors like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman should decide on their own when it comes to taking a call on quitting the game.

'The day their performance drops, they will leave on their own. Dravid and Laxman have already phased out from ODI cricket. Sachin also plays very less. It is good to see youngsters perform so well in the shorter format but I am more worried about Tests. We haven't seen anyone who can challenge these seniors. Definitely, the time hasn't come to phase out seniors in Tests,' Ganguly was quoted as saying by a TV channel.

Kapil Dev, captain of the 1983 World Cup winning team, disagreed with Ganguly and said that selectors should take a call on the retirement of the senior players.

'It is the selectors who will have to take a call on their retirement. A player never likes to retire. Selectors should see the bigger picture and take a tough decision. But, they (selectors) should this while giving full respect to these seniors,' Kapil said.

Kapil also proposed that the three seniors - Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman - should not play together in a single Test.

'Two of them can play and one can be rested so that a youngster can be tested in his place. In this manner, we can give a chance to a talented youngster without taking too much risk and making too many changes all of a sudden,' Kapil said.

Kapil said it is not going to be easy to find replacements for the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman.

'It is going to be extremely difficult. But, youngsters, even though they might have failed in whatever chances they've got till now, have to be given another go. Actually, the problem is not with their (youngsters') talent. It is their poor fitness level which is letting them down. Coach and selectors will have to play a big role in coming times. Youngsters should also learn to take pride in their cricket,' said Kapil.