Former chief selector Kiran More described Sourav Ganguly's inclusion in India's 15-member Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia as a "step backwards", adding the new selectors have no long term plans.
The new selection panel, headed by Krishnamachari Srikkanth, gave the former India captain's Test career a fresh lease of life by including him in the squad on Wednesday.
"I am really surprised (by Ganguly's selection). He was not in the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup team nor in the Board President's XI. There is no long term planning. We are going backward but we need to look ahead," said More, who had axed Ganguly during his tenure as chief selector.
"This is almost the same team that lost in Sri Lanka. Something is wrong somewhere," he told NDTV.
The former stumper also emphasised the need to select youngsters.
"When will players like Rohit Sharma and Badrinath play Tests? I don't think Badri will get a chance to play in the series with this team," he said.
Sharma, the talented Mumbai batsman, who was part of the Test team during the Sri Lankan tour, was dropped from the squad.
But More felt the new selection panel should be given time to settle down.
"I can't blame them much. They are new. This is the first time they have chosen a team. They will need time to settle down," he said.
