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Rediff.com  » News » Shastri wants fresh blood in national team

Shastri wants fresh blood in national team

April 09, 2007 17:13 IST
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India's newly appointed cricket manager Ravi Shastri is backing the infusion of fresh blood into the team following last month's early World Cup exit in the Caribbean.

On Saturday, the 44-year-old Shastri was handed the task of guiding the team for next month's tour of Bangladesh after Australian Greg Chappell resigned as coach in the wake of the World Cup debacle.

"You need to look at youth in whatever walk of life at some stage. There is a shelf-period for everything," Shastri told CNN-IBN news television channel on Monday.

India, touted favourites back home, were knocked out of the World Cup in the group phase after defeats to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, prompting several former players and fans to call for large-scale changes to the team.

The powerful working committee of the board advised the selection committee to send a young team to Bangladesh under an experienced captain on Saturday, and on the same afternoon, Rahul Dravid was retained as skipper for the next three tours.

"If you have got to experiment and try and do something, do it against Bangladesh," said Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 one-day internationals between 1981 and 1992.

The former captain, currently a commentator with a leading sports broadcaster, was given the role on an interim basis.

Starting on May 10, the tour consists of three one-day internationals and two Tests.

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Source: REUTERS
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