BANGALORE, India: Master Batsman Sunil Gavaskar has been dropped from a 12 member squad announced today for the first two one day internationals against Australia.
The selectors’ announcement ‘was their most sensational since December, 1984 when Kapil Dev was dropped from a side facing England in the Calcutta test, sparking outrage and reports of clashes between the two stars of Indian cricket.
Gavaskar then led India, a position which was reversed the following year when he stepped down for Dey to regain captaincy a post which has swung between them in the last two years,
The short and stocky batsman known to millions of fans in India as the ‘Little Master’ will not play matches at Jaipur on Sept, 7andat Srinagar on Sept. 9 after playing 81 internationals since his debut in international cricket in 1971.
Indian Selection Committee chairman Chandu Borde said Gavaskar, 37, was not considered for the two matches to give youngsters a chance and help India rebuild a side to retain the world cup to be jointly staged by India and Pakistan next year.
Borde told reporters covering three day match between an Indian cricket board president’s XI and Australia in this southern city that there was no question of dropping Gavaskar.
Gavaskar said in an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency in western Barodo City that he was not planning to retire from international cricket, but added that he would accept it gracefully if not selected.
He has scored more runs and centuries32than anyone in Test Cricket, but has a less formidable record in limited overs matches where he has never hit a hundred.
There were no other surprises in the Squad which comprised mainly the men who helped India share ‘a two-match series in England ‘earlier this year and were also in the side led by Gavaskar which ‘won a limited overs tournament in Australia.
Gavaskar stepped down after the Australian tournament last year and was reported by several Indian newspapers to have asked the selectors to allow him to bat lower down the batting order instead of as an opener, a request Kapil Dev opposed.
But the former Captain later agreed to open the innings and was moderately successful during the last England tour.
Relations between the two were at their worst after Dev was dropped for a test when Gavaskar was Captain in 1984 on an England tour of India on the grounds of indiscipline
Article extracted from this publication >>September 5, 1986
