1984 Asia Cup hero Surinder Khanna wants senior pros to up it

Surinder Khanna

India's 1984 inaugural Asia Cup hero - wicketkeeper-batsman Surinder Khanna, 67, - wants India's senior pros to play to their potential in the Asia Cup starting in Multan on August 30.

India will play their opening game against Pakistan at Pallekele in Sri Lanka on September 2.

"I always back India, but in limited-overs cricket any team can surprise you. Our star players [skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli] are not that young now. I hope they come back in the Asia Cup squad and play to their potential for a triumph," Khanna told mid-day from Delhi on Sunday.

Under Hardik Pandya's captaincy India recently lost the five-match T20I series to West Indies 2-3, a loss which Khanna reckoned is not a good sign for a team like India. He said: "We lost a series to a team [West Indies], which failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup. It hurts me a lot.

"If you want to select India's T20 team, pick players from their performances in a T20 tournament, but for a 50-over tournament, only those who performed well in four-day [first-class] cricket should be picked," Khanna said.

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Chief selector Ajit Agarkar's selection committee will select the team for the Asia Cup in Delhi today. When asked who should keep wickets - Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or KL Rahul [yet to be declared fit] in 50-over format, the former stumper said better, wicketkeeping skills should be a priority. "If you are selecting a team for one-day games, wicketkeeping should be the No. 1 aspect. If you once decide ‘X' is good, give him chances and confidence," Khanna remarked.

In the 1984 Asia Cup, Khanna, who was preferred over senior Syed Kirmani in the playing XI. He scored 51 against Sri Lanka and 56 against Pakistan in Sharjah to help India triumph.