Tandoori roti capturing the imagination of Danish kabaddi team that 'raided' a roadside dhaba in Bathinda on Sunday. The players are in the city to participate in the third world cup of the sport. Kulbir Beera/HT
Ghanur, who was on the team that won the Asia Cup and India-Pakistan Games, has expressed surprise at the likely composition
of the final team to be announced on Tuesday after the dope-test results are out.
The team selection was from November 16 to 30. “The selection committee had specified that only the player who had attended the 15-day trials were eligible to be on the squad,” he said. “I was eighth best among the raiders but Ludhar and Gagandeep came in from nowhere and my place was pushed to 10th.”
Ghanur said he had nothing personal against the players who had replaced him but he was surprised that the selection committee had bent own rules. “Ludhar and Gagandeep did not participate in the Asia Cup and India-Pakistan Games. They did not even attend the selection camp,” he said. “I was on each of the three squads.”
The player can now make the team only in one case: if any of the seven players selected over him fails the dope test. “Had the ouster been based on proper criteria, it would not have hurt me,” said Ghanur, “but it’s hard to digest my place going to the undeserving.”
Of the other raiders selected over him, Sandeep Gaggi also participated in Saturday’s march past during the world cup opening ceremony. “These players were among the extras and only top seven raiders were supposed to part of the march past,” said Ghanur.
“The selection committee should explain why Gaggi was part of the marching contingent. I am afraid that two more deserving players will be sacrificed to adjust Gaggi and Ludhar. Both are ineligible to play for India.”
The selectors and team management were unavailable for comments.