Aakash Chopra not happy as India pacer included for Asian Games squad

The Asian Games 2023 is set to start in September and India will participate in both men’s and women’s cricket events. The Indian squad has been mostly comprised of players who are at the periphery of the international selections in major tournaments, or knocking on the doors.

Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to lead the Indian team whereas players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar – who are in the main Indian team for the West Indies series, are included as well.

India have named Shivam Mavi, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh to complete their four-man pacers union along with Mukesh Kumar.

But former India player Aakash Chopra is bemused as Arshdeep Singh was selected for the Asian Games squad.

As the Asian Games kind of coincides with the World Cup, players included in this series won’t have any chance to feature in the World Cup 2023 squad. And Chopra expressed his disappointment on his YouTube channel regarding Arshdeep’s exclusion from the ODI World Cup.

“I am surprised Arshdeep Singh’s name is in this team. I am surprised because they are not considering him for ODIs at all. You didn’t consider him for the T20Is as well in the West Indies,” Chopra said on his channel.

“Now you are not considering him for the Asia Cup and are already keeping him out of the World Cup list. What has happened? When I see Arshdeep Singh, it seems like there is a huge upside, he is a player for the long haul and can play all three formats, at least both white-ball formats, but they have not kept him currently,” he added.

The former India player also argued the inclusion of Mukesh Kumar in the Asian Games squad and says the Indian team is probably looking to someone like Umran Malik as the fourth pacer for the World Cup.

Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are expected to be India’s frontline pacers along with a returning Jasprit Bumrah. It is to be seen who the Indian team go for to deputize the pace trio.