NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticised the selectors for leaving Sanju Samson out of India’s T20I squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, calling the decision “just unfair”. Ashwin also warned that frequent changes in the team could create insecurity among players and hurt India’s T20 setup.Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said he completely disagreed with the decision.“I mean, what can I even say? It’s just unfair. Just unfair. I don’t agree with it. But it is what it is. I mean, I don’t know. Seriously, it’s difficult.”Ashwin questioned the logic behind dropping Samson after a few poor scores and wondered who would be next if the team continued to lose.“Sanju has been dropped because of losses and form. He has been left out. We’ve already lost two games. If we lose again, will someone else be dropped too? Who is next? That’s wrong. I really hope the Indian team finds itself. Indian cricketers should not be put in an insecure position.”Samson’s omission has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was named Player of the Tournament at this year’s T20 World Cup, managed scores of 5, 0 and 1 in his last three innings against Ireland and in the opening T20I against England.Samson was replaced in the playing XI by 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and was later left out of the Zimbabwe-bound squad.Ashwin said such decisions can make players think more about protecting their place than winning matches.“As I had said earlier after the SKY incident, players will go insular. They will start thinking only about themselves. In T20 cricket, that is disastrous.”“If batters start thinking that they will be dropped if they don’t score runs, they will begin playing only to protect their place in the team, which is extremely dangerous.”Ashwin added that even if Samson gets another opportunity, the pressure of keeping his place could affect the way he bats.“Even now I’m saying, imagine Sanju gets another chance. He too will start thinking about himself. And you can’t even say that’s wrong.”“If Sanju scores 45 or 48 off 25 balls and takes two more deliveries to reach his fifty, you can’t say that’s wrong because he is trying to protect his place in the team. I really hope… I really hope they find a solution to this.”Ashwin further argued that a good domestic season should not automatically guarantee an India call-up, while responding to suggestions that players like Prabhsimran Singh deserved opportunities after impressive performances.“In our TNPL team, there’s a player named Hunny Saini. He’s a very good player and an excellent finisher. He also wants a chance. There’s BR Sharad from Bengaluru Dragons, who is playing well too. If you’re asking when they should get an opportunity, then send them to Zimbabwe as well. I’ll send Hunny Saini too.”“See, I have all the time for Prabhsimran Singh. He’s a very good player. He has produced excellent performances. He has scored over 500 runs.”“Does he deserve a break? Maybe he does. Maybe it’s debatable. But nowhere is it written that scoring 500 runs in a season automatically guarantees an India call-up,” Ashwin said.
