Agarkar provides an all-round hope

LAHORE, March 4: The Indian cricket selectors should keep a close watch on Mumbai all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, India A coach Krishnamachari Sri...

LAHORE, March 4: The Indian cricket selectors should keep a close watch on Mumbai all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, India A coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth said, here, today.

“Agarkar is the answer to India’s search for a gutsy all-rounder. He bowled with a lot of aggression on this tour, and cracked a century when the chips were down. He has tremendous talent and the right temperament to succeed at the Test level,” said Srikkanth.

The coach also pointed out that the India A team’s performance in the series was much better than expected. “We are playing against a much better equipped and more experienced Pakistan side. Basit Ali, Shahid Afridi, Hassan Raza and Aqaib Javed are big names, at least on paper. Even the Pakistanis are surprised with our show,” he added.

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Srikkanth admitted that rain had been a major hurdle towards achieving a win in the `Test’ series. However, he expressed satisfaction at the motivation levels of the youngsters. “Rain has not made things easy for us. It has been like anever-ending period of ennui. However, when I joined the tour, rushing back from South Africa, I wanted to meet the challenge head on. And, I believe I have succeeded to a great extent,” remarked the coach, who is credited with the only Indian captain to have returned undefeated from Pakistan.

To keep the team in high spirits, Srikkanth and team manager Surinder Khanna have devised various fun games. And, the most rewarding fall-out of the `damp’ days has been the growing involvement of players in group discussions, with philosophical discussions forming the most interesting part of it.