The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : I am surprised, says Rajput

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Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007
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I am surprised, says Rajput

Mumbai: Rahul Dravid’s omission from the Indian squad for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan in the forthcoming five-match series has come as a surprise to the team’s cricket manager Lalchand Rajput.

“Let’s put it this way. I am surprised at his omission. He’s such a class player, a virtual wall against the opposition. We will definitely miss him,” Rajput told PTI on Monday.

Rajput was non-committal when asked whether he would have opposed the five-man selection panel’s decision to drop the former Indian captain from the team for the ODIs at Guwahati and Mohali. “I was not invited for the meeting of the selection committee and I can’t comment on it,” he said.

Rajput, who was named cricket manager for the team by the BCCI after the selection of the squad for the first two ODIs, was present at Ahmedabad as coach of the India Red outfit when the selectors met there on October 27.

The former India and Mumbai opener said he had not had a chance to talk to the selectors after the team had been picked. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to them. Let’s see,” he said.

Rajput was en route to Delhi to attend the felicitation function for the victorious ICC Twenty20 winning team by President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday. He was the team’s cricket manager when India emerged triumphant in South Africa last month. — PTI

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