
The Indian selection panel, with Ajit Agarkar at the helm, are reportedly considering a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, beginning on August 30. They want to comprehensively assess all the potential options for the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
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It has also been reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have the head coach Rahul Dravid taking part in the selection meeting, in a first, as per the Times of India. This wasn’t the case when his predecessors, Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble. were performing their duties.
With Pakistan and Bangladesh opting for 17-member squads for the Asia Cup 2023 as per the provisions of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), India will likely go for a similar number of players in their squad for the continental cricket tournament. This could be the case, especially as KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are recovering from their injuries and not fully ready to get picked, forcing BCCI to take a safer approach.
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An anonymous BCCI source to PTI was quoted as saying about the matter, "There is a possibility of picking the provisional 15-member squad for the World Cup which needs to be submitted by September 5, but one could make changes as the deadline for the final squad is September 27. For the Asia Cup, a couple of more players could be picked.”
Shreyas Iyer bats for 38 overs in a warm-up game at the NCA to prove his fitness
As per the report from ESPNcricinfo, Shreyas Iyer, who is working against time to prove his fitness for the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup, batted for 38 overs and fielded for 50 overs during a warm-up game at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Also, KL Rahul is nearing full fitness, according to reports, which could be a positive sign for Team India in the coming weeks and months.