Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad launched a scathing attack and opined that many laughable things are happening in Indian cricket at the moment after Kerala all-rounder Jalaz Saxena was snubbed from South Zone's squad for Dulee Trophy 2023. The South Zone Associations on June 13 named a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy which will mark the commencement of India's domestic season. But interestingly, Saxena was not included in the squad despite performing exceptionally well in the last Ranji Trophy season.
Reacting to Saxena's inexplicable snub from the South Zone squad, Prasad underlined that decisions like these are rendering the Ranji Trophy useless.
"There are many laughable things happening in Indian cricket. The highest wicket taker in Ranji Trophy not being picked even for the South Zone team is as baffling as it gets. Just renders the Ranji Trophy useless..what a shame." Prasad said in a Tweet on June 18 (Sunday).
Saxena, who bagged 50 wickets in 13 innings during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, had earlier voiced his displeasure after being snubbed from the squad. In a cryptic tweet, Saxena asked fans to check whether a player has been snubbed from Duleep Trophy squad after picking the most wickets in Ranji Trophy.
"Highest wicket taker in Ranji trophy in India( Elite Group) didn't get picked in Duleep trophy. Can you please check whether it has ever happened in the Indian Domestic history? Just wanted to know. Not blaming anyone," Saxena said in a Tweet.
The 36-year-old Saxena boasts an impeccable record in domestic cricket. In his 18-year First-Class career so far, the right-arm off-spinner and elegant right-handed batter has performed consistently and delivered match-winning performances for his teams.
Overall, Saxena has played 133 First-Class matches and scored 6,567 runs with the help of 14 centuries and 32 fifties. With the ball, he has accounted for 410 wickets with 28 five-wicket hauls.
Meanwhile, Out-of-favour India batter Hanuma Vihari, who has played 16 Test matches for the senior men's national side, has been appointed as the captain of South Zone. Mayank Agarwal, who has also fallen behind in the pecking order for Team India, has been named as Vihari's deputy for the competition.
South Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2023: Hanuma Vihari (c), Mayank Agarwal (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Ricky Bhui (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Samarth, Washington Sundar, Sachin Baby, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Sai Kishore, V Kaverappa, V Vyshak, KV Sasikanth, Darshan Misal and Tilak Varma.
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