UNDETERRED BY his continuous exclusion from the Team India recently, the lone international cricketer from Bhopal, J P Yadav, is still confident of making it to the World Cup 2007 team.
After Narendra Hirwani and Rajesh Chauhan, ‘JP’ did the State proud by getting into the team after a long struggle. “I am working hard to find place in the team and hope for selection in near future”, Yadav told Hindustan Times.
Starting as a batsman, the gusty cricketer soon realised that he has to hone bowling skills too to make it to the team as an all-rounder.
“I am working hard both with the ball and the bat, as it is only this way I can attract the BCCI selectors”, he said. On his prospects in the face of such a tough competition from youngsters, Yadav said he is eyeing the sixth or seventh number position in the batting order and good one-day specialist bowler slot.
However, he admitted, “At 31, its my last chance to get into the team, if at all”. JP is unhappy over non-cooperative attitude of Central Zone selector Sanjay Jagdale.
“He is not cooperative. He should interact with senior and junior players more”, complained the cricketer. Accusing Jagdale of being biased towards Indore, JP pointed out that Bhopal has produced fine players like Mohnish Mishra and Brijesh Tomar who have been consistently performing great cricket but still not getting chance whereas mediocre players
from Indore got more chances.