Chief selector in row over Sehwag

MUMBAI - INDIA'S chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar was taken to task by a cricket official on Sunday, after saying out-of-form batsman Virender Sehwag was included in India's World Cup team at skipper Rahul Dravid's insistence.

In an interview with CNN-IBN television news channel, Vengsarkar said if Dravid had not demanded Sehwag's inclusion, he might not have been on the team.

His comments on Saturday could lead to controversy ahead of India's campaign in the World Cup, according to Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

'The team is selected by five selectors in consultation with the captain and the coach. Selection issues should not come out in the open,' he said.

'It creates unnecessary controversy before the World Cup.'

Sehwag, 28, goes to the March 13-April 28 World Cup in the Caribbean following a prolonged slump. He has scored just one 50 in 13 innings since August.

The aggressive batsman from Delhi missed several limited-over internationals after he was dropped from the team because of his dismal performance on the recent tour of South Africa.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS