Former team India captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his disappointment at pacer Ashok Dinda and middle order bat Manoj Tiwary not getting selected for the first two Tests of the forthcoming home series against England and said he would have picked both as a selector.
"It is disappointing to find Dinda and Tiwary are not in the squad. Dinda's selection was important. No player in the country is more deserving than Tiwary and Dinda," said Ganguly.
"They have always performed well whenever they got the opportunity. But neither of them know when they will get the next chance in spite of doing well," he said.
In spite of hitting a fine 93 in a practice match against visiting England, Tiwary did not find favour with the new national selection committee headed by Sandip Patil, which Monday announced the Indian team for the first two Tests.
On the other hand, Dinda was the highest wicket taker in last year's domestic season.
Batting for Dinda, Ganguly said pacers have a short life span and they should get a chance when they are in top form.
"Ishant Sharma has been given a lot of opportunities but has not performed as desired. Dinda was the highest wicket taker last year in the domestic season and has started off well this season. It is disappointing to say the least," said the southpaw.
"Had I been a selector I would have always played Manoj in all the formats of the game. He is a fine batsman, can bowl and field well. I would have surely picked Dinda and Tiwary in my team," added the former skipper.
On the selection of Indian cricket board president N. Srinivasan-owned Chennai Super King's Murli Vijay, Ganguly said the Tamil Nadu willower was perhaps chosen as a replacement for dashing opener Virender Sehwag who has been nursing a thumb injury.
"It is really hard on my part to say that he was chosen because he plays for CSK. He has been selected probably as a replacement for Sehwag who earlier had sustained a thumb injury," said Ganguly.
Meanwhile, Tiwary took the disappointment positively.
"These are part and parcel of professional life and you have to take them in your stride. I am taking this positively. My next aim is to do well in Ranji Trophy," Tiwary said.
PTI
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