Players need to prove their mettle in domestic cricket: Vengsarkar

Mumbai, Jan 11 (UNI) In a a veiled warning to players, Chairman of Selection Committee of the BCCI Dilip Vengsarkar today said cricketers would have to perform well in domestic circuit to be considered eligible for the first two ODIs against West Indies.

He said allrounder Irfan Pathan and batsman Yuvraj Singh will have to perform and prove their form and fitness in domestic cricket.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of Baskin Robbins Junior Cricket 7s Tournament, Vengsarkar said both the players were talented and were important for Indian team but they will have to prove themselves.

His statement carries significance against the backdrop of opener Virendra Sehwag's century in a Ranji match yesterday while he did not perform upto expectations in South Africa.

Regarding Munaf Patel's fitness during the South African tour, Vengsarkar said ''it was felt Munaf was not fit in the third Test.'' Describing the Twenty-20 format of cricket as ''future'' of the game, he said he found the format quite exciting and that it was here to stay.

''We will have to organise tournaments on these lines at domestic level, since South Africa is hosting the first World Cup of Twenty 20 cricket in September,'' he said.

Vengsarkar denied that this format of cricket weighed against the bowlers and added that globally people were interested in watching the Twenty 20 format of cricket, including those conuntries that were not playing Test.

The Baskin Robbins Junior Cricket 7s Tournament will be held at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, culminating in finals being conducted in Mumbai. The championship is restricted to boys under-17 and will have participants from schools and junior colleges.

UNI