'I haven't tried cut and pull shots as it hurts'

A day after meeting DDCA president Arun Jaitley, Indian opener Virender Sehwag said that there are discrepencies in the selection process at the lower level and hoped that his suggestions to the Delhi administrators would be implemented soon.

"If you look at Indian team, I don't think there is any need to give any suggestions because it's the merit that matters. Whoever performs gets picked. There is never an instance where somebody has not performed and got picked," Sehwag said.

"It (unfair selections) happens at lower levels and I have given some suggestions to DDCA and I hope that my suggestions would be implemented soon and the results would be seen in near future," he added.

The Delhi opener had spearheaded a revolt against DDCA, accusing its sports committee of indulging in nepotism and corruption and his stand has been supported by senior players like Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma and Ashish Nehra.

Team India Vice captain Yuvraj Singh also threw his weight behind Sehwag and supported his views on the selection process.

"Sehwag has raised a voice and everybody is with him and we have the highest hope. There were instances where I performed but was not picked. Such unfair practices hurt the careers of young cricketers and shatter their dreams.

"So I think the selection should be done keeping every player's performance in contention," he said.

Recovering from right shoulder injury, Sehwag said he would start playing again from the first week of September.

"I'm feeling a little better. I had been hitting only 10-15 balls and haven't tried cut and pull shots as it hurts," Sehwag said.

Meanwhile, on senior batsman Rahul Dravid's return to the one-day squad after a gap of nearly two years, Yuvraj said it would lend experience to the side and also help younger players in the team. 

Out of reckoning Rohit Sharma said he was looking forward to the domestic season to improve his game and strive to get back into the national side.

Rohit also dismissed suggestions that he is uncomfortable playing short-pitch deliveries. 

"I have been playing well those short balls in IPL and Twenty20 World Cup. It is just that sometimes mistakes do happen," he said. 

"Pull shot is my favourite and I would continue to play it," he added.  

PCA says Yuvraj's claims 'ill-founded'

Meanwhile, Punjab Cricket Association has termed Yuvraj Singh's outbursts regarding discrimination in the selection at junior level as "ill-founded" and said the process was "foolproof" and 100 per cent done on merit. 

"I think what he has said is ill-founded. Yuvraj is a product of junior cricket and has all along been associated with PCA. He has played so many matches at the junior level," BCCI treasurer and PCA secretary, MP Pandove said.

Pandove said the PCA's selection process at all levels is 100 per cent done on merit. 

"Our selection system is totally foolproof. There is no discrimination at junior or senior level," Pandove said. 

He said the PCA's "fair selection" had also been proved by the performance of Punjab teams in various tournaments over the past many years.