Live telecast selection meetings so fans know why players are dropped: Manoj Tiwary

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to live stream selection meetings in order to ensure transparency and allow cricket enthusiasts across the country to understand the criteria behind the inclusion and exclusion of players in the senior national teams.

Tiwary’s remarks came after he argued that Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal deserved places in the Asia Cup squad, which was announced by national chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Tuesday. India named a 15-member squad, appointing Suryakumar Yadav as captain and recalling Shubman Gill as vice-captain. Gill, who had not been part of the T20I set-up since a tour of Sri Lanka in July last year, returned to the side after a lengthy absence.

The decision sparked debate, with questions raised over Gill’s inclusion. Several voices, including former national chief selector Kris Srikkanth, criticised the panel for overlooking Yashasvi and Shreyas.

While Yashasvi was named among the reserves, Shreyas failed to make even the five-member standby list.

“People who deserve opportunities are not getting them. That is why I have long been saying that selection meetings should be live telecast so that sports enthusiasts understand why a player is chosen and why another is not. Simply coming to a press conference, offering a line or two about an exclusion, and then doing something different is not right,” Tiwary told ANI news agency.

'SHREYAS AND YASHASVI DESERVED PLACES'

Shreyas Iyer had been widely expected to feature in the 15-man Asia Cup squad after a stellar season with Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025. The Mumbai batter amassed 602 runs at a strike rate of 175, redefining his game to meet team requirements. Having never previously struck at over 150 across a season, Iyer adopted a high-risk approach and found consistent success.

By contrast, Yashasvi, who was part of India’s 15-man squad at last year’s T20 World Cup, was overlooked as the selectors turned back to Gill for the back-up opener’s role.

“Two deserving candidates, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have missed out. If you look at old interviews of Gautam Gambhir, he said Yashasvi Jaiswal is a player who cannot be left out of T20 cricket. Now, with Gambhir himself as coach, Yashasvi still has no place,” Tiwary added.

“Also, if you consider the performances of Shreyas Iyer over the past year — in the IPL and domestic cricket — and the way he has captained, it is surprising he has not been selected. The way he led in the IPL makes it even more eye-opening that he is absent from the squad,” he said.

National chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted that selecting only 15 players from such a deep talent pool, especially in T20 cricket, was a difficult task. Agarkar stressed that it was not Iyer’s fault that he missed out, but neither was it a failing of the selection committee.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on 10 September, a day after the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.