Dhaka, June 2: Even as India prepare for the vital clash with Pakistan on the morrow, the capitulation of their batsman against Sri Lanka has led to many tongues wagging, with all sorts of excuses and explanations being offered for the defeat.Whether it is the run out of Mohammad Azharuddin (it was a comical situation with both batsmen at the crease partly responsible for the mess) or the spineless middle order, the Indians made a not too difficult chase look so unattainable, that in a way, it was in the fitness of things that Sri Lanka won the match easily.A lot is being read into skipper Saurav Ganguly's tongue-lashing after the match. ``If players who have played in more than 200 to 300 matches don't know how to bat on a placid wicket then they better.'' One does not need to be a mind-reader to guess at whom this barb is aimed. There were two crucial failures in the middle and they were Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja. Had one of the two succeeded, Tendulkar could have found a partner who could have taken India close to the Lankan score.For the last year or so, both these players have been at the centre of one controversy or the other and even after Azharuddin's successful return to the Indian side, his place in the side seems very insecure. Even one failure brings with it comments like the one Ganguly made. Sad but possibly true, Azharuddin needs to be always among runs if he has to retain his place in the team. Same goes for Jadeja, who too must be going through the pressure of coping up with all the allegations against him and at the same time concentrate on the game and be among runs. A tough call for both.If India are not well-equipped these days to face the might of international teams the fault, primarily, lies with the planners. One has lost the count of players who have made International debut for India and have then, been shunted out without a fair and proper trial.The latest player on the chopping block is Hemang Badani. He made a fine impression in his debut match. He was, understandably, nervous while batting but his one straight drive - struck with minimum of backlift or a follow through - showed all the signs of a quality batsman. Add his verve and athleticism on the field, and Badani promises a lot. But the important question is: Will he survive or, to be more precise, will he be allowed to survive? The way our selectors function, it won't be a surprise if that match against Bangladesh proves to be his last as well. The more India are afraid of losing the less they will experiment and, in the end, lose more and more.For once, the bowlers did not disappoint too much. Not that much was expected of them but to limit Sri Lanka to 275 on a wicket where batting is one of the easiest things to do was a decent achievement, especially given the inexperience of the attack. Even the fielding seems to have improved but till India discovers youngsters like the Abdur Razaaqs, Imran Nazirs and Weeraratnes, and gives them a longer run on the field, it won't be a front-runner in World cricket.One wonders what happened to the Indian under-19 players who won the World Cup for us. Strange that India has not blooded even a single player from that squad of highly talented youngsters.Pakistan, who have still to win the Asia Cup, seem to discover fresh talent at the drop of a coin and, unlike us, they also know how to nurse that talent. That is one of the major reasons for their being a force to reckon with. And despite the jet lag and the fatigue the Pakistan team must be suffering from, there must be more people backing them to win Saturday's match. And if these predictions come true, then this match will be the last for India in this Asia Cup. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will qualify for the final.
