'What is the issue?' - Aakash Chopra questions selection of only three pacers in India's Asia Cup squad

Former India batter Aakash Chopra questioned Indian management’s team selection for the 2022 Asia Cup, asking why there were only three seamers in the squad. He also believes that pacer Mohammed Shami should have made the 15-member squad for the continental tournament that will commence on August 27.

India announced their squad on August 8, Monday, and fast bowlers on the list are Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Chopra believes that Arshdeep and Kumar were certain choices, and for the third option, the race was between Avesh and Shami. He said both Avesh and Shami should have been picked as he feels that four pacers are necessary.

“My question is that the Dubai pitch and the September month, it helps the fast bowlers,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel. “There is a lot of grass on the pitch. The pitch does not change for the entire tournament; there is consistent help for the fast bowlers. We saw that in the IPL and have seen it repeatedly. So what is the issue?”

I felt it could have been a race between Avesh Khan and Mohammed Shami: Aakash Chopra

Some of the other fast bowlers who were likely to make the squad were Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah. Patel is suffering from a side strain, and Bumrah has sustained a back injury, and both are ruled out from the competition. “Where is Mohammed Shami? I felt it could have been a race between Avesh Khan and Mohammed Shami, or you could have picked both because four fast bowlers are necessary, in my opinion,” added the former Indian opener.

Chopra further said that given the way Shami performed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, and for India in the past, there was an opportunity for him to make the Asia Cup squad. He picked up 20 wickets in 16 games with an economy rate of 8.00 for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022.

“I think he was phenomenal. If you can bowl like that with so much experience, I thought this opportunity was there for the taking,” said the 44-year-old.