Yo-Yo test for Team India spot: Sandeep Patil questions selection criteria

Mumbai: Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selector Sandeep Patil has expressed his concerns over dropping Indian cricketers from the respective squads on failing the Yo-Yo test, adding that he found the idea very ‘absurd’.

Patil, however, reiterated that he was not against fitness being a criteria.

“Look, I am not against fitness being a criteria. .But I find it very absurd that a player is dropped for failing the Yo Yo test after he has been picked in the squad. In this way, you are disturbing the balance of the team; you are playing with the career of a cricketer,” Patil was quoted saying by Mid-Day.

While Ambati Rayudu and Sanju Samson were among the cricketers to have failed the fitness test, Rohit Sharma got the green signal to Ireland and England after passing the test.

Rayudu was included in India’s ODI squad for England series whereas Samson was a part of the India A team which will be playing a tri-series with England Lions and West Indies A.

“The toughest competition is T20 cricket and throughout the tournament (Indian Premier League) the players have not suffered any problems. “Suddenly, they are out. What I also find absurd and wrong is that the trainer will decide on these matters. Has the trainer become a selector?”, the 61-year-old questioned.

He also recalled the selection procedure when he was the Chairman of selectors between 2012 and 2016.

“Before each selection meeting, every selector was given a list of players who were available, fit and unfit. The selection meeting used to take place after that.

“There was no interference from the Board, captain or coach and the final decision on whether to select a player was left to the selectors alone,” the former Mumbai cricketer continued.

The Yo-Yo test has been an integral part of selection for the Indian team. Team India head coach Ravi Shastri had recently suggested raising Yo-Yo test requirement score from 16.1 to 16.3, with the Cricket World Cup in England less than a year away.