New Delhi: Expressing his disapproval at the selection of young Parthiv Patel as the specialist wicket-keeper in the Indian World Cup squad, former national selector Madan Lal on Monday said Vijay Dahiya or Ajay Ratra would have been a "better choice". "The selectors were left with no choice. Deep Dasgupta was the only other wicket- keeper picked in the probables, and everyone knew that he wouldn't get through. But Dahiya would have been a better choice for the One-day style of keeping," he said at a book release function here. Former India stumper Syed Kirmani also agreed with Madan Lal, saying, "No matter how great a cricketer one might be, you need to be a wicket-keeper to understand the finer points of wicket-keeping," in an apparent allusion to Rahul Dravid keeping wickets in the World Cup. "Dravid is a class batsman and is one of the keys to India's prospects, so we shouldn't take any chances with him. "I would not like to be too critical at this juncture, since the team has already been chosen. Parthiv is a young talent, and he should be given the right exposure," he said. Kirmani said the debacle in New Zealand should act as a motivational factor for the Indian team and would exhort them to put in its best for the World Cup. "I have no favourites, this is cricket and anything can happen," Kirmani said when asked who he favoured to lift the trophy. Extras:
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Tags: cricket, world cup, parthiv patel, wicket-keeper, madan lal, vijay dahiya, ajay ratra, deep dasgupta, syed kirmani, rahul dravid.