Prasad wants say in selection

The perennial Munaf Patel situation — is he fit, is he not — has resulted in the bowling coach wanting a say in the team selection, reports Amol Karhadkar.

The perennial Munaf Patel situation — is he fit, is he not — has resulted in bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad wanting a say in the team selection. He is planning to say as much to the BCCI.

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“Munaf went back in the middle of the Bangladesh tour (due to an injury). He hasn’t played too much cricket before coming here,” said Prasad. “What’s important is that the selectors need to talk to me in terms of how a bowler is bowling before selection, it’s important to have good communication and be proactive. I am going to give this proposal to the Board.”

Munaf, who was rested in the first ODI, generated some pace in the second, but was off at Edgbaston. So was Prasad unhappy with his fitness? “No, no," he clarified.

“I am pretty happy. I just need to know from the bowler how he is bowling and there needs to be somebody else who can understand whether he is bowling with the same intensity as he has been bowling for the country,” he added.

“It’s important to have a good communication and be proactive in terms of fast bowling. When I’m handling the fast bowling it’s important the selectors have a talk with me on how one is doing and how one needs to be going about it. It’s a proposal I’m giving to the board."