Our group need not support Bengal or Mumbai. But it is good that till lunch, Bengal is playing spiritedly and Dada is back to his majestic best. Zaheer Khan has given 90 runs in 18 overs. The pitch is not very good for batting and the scenario may change after the 2nd new ball is taken. But it is good that Bangla is giving a good fight and making the game interesting.

 

Vengsarkar was present for a large part of the match, we thought as chief selector. But his smug smile at the success of Mumbai has shown that he is a Mumbaikar first and then the chief national selctor. Although Bose and Tiwari had an excellent Ranji session, they are not in his radar. Apparently he said that Bose is performing in longer version, so how can he be considered for ODI world cup? We are not sure if Rohit Sharma (Vengsarkar's pet), Cheteswar Pujara (quota of Niranjan Shah's saurashtra) or Ishant Sharma had found place in world cup 30 due to their ODI performances.

 

In reality, in spite of whatever Vengsarkar professes, he is maintaining a strict quota based system. Dada is in, so the east zone quota (of one) is filled. Again, as Dinesh Karthik in playing well and may be in world cup, Laxman is not being considered. I will be surprised if Raina is not selected: after all, he is now the only one to fill central zone quota.

 

All the best for 'colonel' and his zonal bias free selection.

 

Aniruddha Sen

Mumbai  

----- Original Message ----
From: freddie_dcosta <freddie_dcosta@...>
To: welovesourav@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 4, 2007 8:06:51 PM
Subject: [welovesourav] Ranji Final