No Indian player in ICC’s Team of the tournament for World Cup 2015
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the team of the tournament for the recently concluded World Cup 2015 and the 12-man team does not feature a single Indian player.
While Indian fans may object to the non-inclusion of any Indian players despite the Men in Blue securing seven straight wins in the competition, it’s hard to argue with ICC’s chosen 12.
Here’s the team announced by the ICC
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand (captain)
Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) (wicketkeeper)
Steven Smith (Australia)
AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Corey Anderson (New Zealand)
Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Morne Morkel (South Africa)
Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) (12th man)
The selection panel included the following members: Geoff Allardice (ICC General Manager – Cricket), Andrew Alderson (Journalist, New Zealand Herald), Harsha Bhogle (Broadcaster), Richard Kettleborough (Member of Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and ICC Umpire of the Year 2014), Chloe Saltau (Journalist, The Age) and Michael Vaughan (Former England captain and broadcaster)
ICC made it clear in its press release that it was a tough selection to make after a tournament filled with numerous memorable performances with the bat and with the ball.
“There were a number of other players that were discussed as possible selections in the team. These included batsmen Mahmudullah (Bangladesh) and Shaiman Anwar (UAE), fast bowlers Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami (both India), Wahab Riaz (Pakistan) and spinners Imran Tahir (South Africa) and R.Ashwin (India).
“But there were so many brilliant individual performances during the tournament that it was not possible to fit them into the team. The panel eventually came up with this side, which, in their view, was the most balanced outfit that is capable of beating any side on any given day.”
