26 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, April 16, 2019 India go for ‘big match’ experience in World Cup picks Pant out, Karthik and Rahul in World Cup squad MUMBAI: India yesterday named a tried and tested than anything, have won him this place,” he told India squad for the World Cup led by Virat Kohli with selec- Today TV. tors going for experience in all the slots for the mar- The veteran Dhoni led India to World Cup glory at quee 50-over event. Dinesh Karthik, 33, was given the home in 2011 and would be playing in his fourth tour- second wicketkeeper’s slot over rising 21-year-old star nament. Rishabh Pant, ending days of speculation over the role. All rounder Shankar, who made his one-day debut Vijay Shankar’s inclusion means he will probably be this year, was also named for the tournament to be held the first choice number four batsman, a position which in England and Wales and starts on May 30. India has struggle to fill permanently. The 28-year-old would probably be the number four Karthik has not been on form in recent games, but batsman, a position in the 15-member squad that had selectors said they value his performance under pres- been difficult to fill, according to Prasad. India have sure over the years. “Definitely it’s a case where we tried 11 different number fours since 2017. debated at length. We went ahead with Karthik Shankar’s “three-dimensional qualities” worked in because of his experience in big matches,” chief selec- his favour when pitted against Ambati Rayudu who has tor M.S.K. Prasad told a news conference. been struggling recently. “We have seen Karthik finishing matches under “Apart from his batting, he can bowl if the conditions pressure. Pant is full of talent, there’s a lot of time for are suitable. If the conditions are overcast, which we him and it’s just unfortunate that he has missed out.” might encounter in England, he might bowl a bit and Karthik was part of the Indian squad for the 2007 he’s a fantastic fielder.” World Cup but was overlooked for 2011 and 2015. The In the fast bowling department, Bhuvneshwar Kumar selectors however made it clear that former India skip- was set to be back-up pacer to Jasprit Bumrah and per Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 37, would remain first- Mohammed Shami in the big games. choice wicketkeeper. India, ranked number two behind England in one- “In an important game, wicket keeping is also impor- day games, reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World tant. Karthik will only play in case of an injury to Cup where they lost to Australia. Dhoni,” Prasad said. India squad: Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar said Pant could Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. have been an exciting option but backed the selectors. Rahul, Vijay Shankar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar “On a morning when say, (Dhoni) has flu and can’t Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep MUMBAI: Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli (L) leaves the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters play, you want somebody who is a better wicket- Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik after attending the ICC Cricket World Cup team selection meeting in Mumbai yesterday. — AFP keeper. I think Karthik’s wicket keeping skills, more Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami. —AFP Smith, Warner Bangladesh hit return for Australia’s by injuries WCup defence ahead of WCup MELBOURNE: The return of Steve Smith and David Warner to Australia’s squad for the Cricket World Cup came as little surprise yesterday but selectors still DHAKA: Bangladesh’s hopes for the cricket managed to cause a stir by omitting strike bowler Josh World Cup have been hit by injuries to several key Hazlewood and in-form batsman Peter Handscomb. players, including star pace bowler Mustafizur Former skipper Smith and Warner were eligible for Rahman. The 23-year-old left arm bowler sprained Aaron Finch’s side after their 12-month ball-tampering his ankle warming up for a Dhaka Premier League bans ended last month but their return put a squeeze match on Thursday, joining a growing injury list on the batting positions that saw Handscomb drop out. which includes batsman Mahmudullah Riyad and “Steve Smith and David Warner come back into the pace bowler Rubel Hossain. squad. Both are world class players and it has been Bangladesh had previously barred the injury- pleasing to see them produce some good form in the prone Mustafizur from playing in the Indian IPL (Indian Premier League),” Chairman of Selectors Premier League ahead of the World Cup, which Trevor Hohns said in a Cricket Australia statement. starts May 30. It had let him take part in the Warner has registered five 50-plus scores, includ- domestic 50-over league to keep match-fit ing an unbeaten century, for Sunrisers Hyderabad in however. seven IPL matches this season while Smith, returning The new injury is expected to sideline him for from an elbow surgery like his former deputy, has also at least two weeks. looked in good touch for Rajasthan Royals. “Mustafizur is slightly better now. We are MELBOURNE: Australia’s one-day cricket captain Aaron Finch (R) speaks to the media as the team for the Spinners Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa have made upcoming World Cup is announced in Melbourne yesterday. Ball-tamperers Steve Smith and David Warner hopeful he will play the World Cup,” Bangladesh the cut, with selectors going for the pace of Pat Cricket Board chief physician Debashis were selected for Australia’s World Cup squad, but there was no room for Josh Hazlewood or Peter Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Handscomb. — AFP Chowdhury told AFP. Debashis is being kept Richardson and Jason Behrendorff, who has been in busy by the squad. Mahmudullah aggravated a fine form in the IPL. shoulder injury during a recent tour of New Hohns said Hazlewood, who has instead been Zealand and only returned to tentative training named in the Australia A team for their tour of Starc and Richardson have both been selected sub- Handscomb was left out despite his good form and last week. England in June-July, remained a big part of Australia’s ject to fitness. “The advice from the CA medical team the value he adds as a back-up stumper. Alex Carey Rubel Hossain has been suffering from a side Ashes plans. The quick, who has taken 72 wickets in is they are progressing well and barring any setbacks has been named the sole wicketkeeper in the squad, strain. “We hope to start his training session 44 one-dayers, has been sidelined since January due will be available for selection ahead of our opening which also contains all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and within a day or two,” said Debashis. to a back injury but had been confident of being fit for match against Afghanistan on June 1,” Hohns said. Glenn Maxwell. The tournament, being hosted in Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who the World Cup. Teams have to submit their 15-member squads by England and Wales, runs from May 30 to July 14. missed the two Tests in New Zealand started “Having not played at the highest level for some April 23 but injury replacements can be named until Squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Usman Khawaja, David individual training last week while batsman time, we feel this will provide him with the best prepa- May 23. Opener Usman Khawaja, player-of-the-series Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tamim Iqbal was expected to resume in the ration to get some quality cricket under his belt,” in Australia’s ODI series victory in India last month, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell upcoming days. Hohns said. “Our focus is to have Josh back bowling at was picked but may have to bat lower with Warner Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed, who was in superb his best for the commencement of a big Ashes tour.” likely to partner Finch at the top. Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa. — Reuters form before a ligament injury ruled out him of the New Zealand tour, played one domestic league game last week. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan hurt his thumb in a for Tuesday in Pittsburgh. New York spotted league game last week but returned to action on Blue Jackets push Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead before netting four unan- Monday. swered goals. The Penguins, who won the Woods’ fairytale However, Debashis was hopeful all of the Lightning to brink Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017, continued to be squad would be match-fit for the tournament. thwarted by the Islanders’ stifling pressure and “With the amount of time we have and the the play of goaltender Robin Lehner, who made Masters win current improvement rate of the players, I don’t of elimination 25 saves Sunday. think anyone will miss the World Cup,” he said. JETS 6, BLUES 3 inspiration for Bangladesh still face a race against time how- ever as they are to play a tri-nation one-day COLUMBUS: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky Second-period goals four minutes apart by international tournament in Ireland from May 5 made 30 saves to lead Columbus to a 3-1 win Kevin Hayes, Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, who Cardiff: Warnock against Ireland and the West Indies. over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday scored two goals in the game, sent Winnipeg off “We hope we can field all our regular players night, lifting the Blue Jackets to a commanding 3- and running to a road victory over St.