Cricket community dismayed over quintet's exclusion

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris, leading cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle and cricket fans took to twitter to express their disappointment after five members of India's 2011 World Cup-winning team were Thursday left out of the 30-member squad of probables for the 2015 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup.

The famous quintet of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan do not feature in the list of the probables as India look to defend their title in Australia and New Zealand.

"Interesting decision to leave Yuvraj out of the 30 man squad. All the others I get but Yuvi can't make the 30?," Styris, who played 160 ODI matches, said.

The fans especially criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for leaving out Yuvraj, who was awarded the Man of the Series at the last World Cup. The 32-year-old southpaw also played crucial in India's triumph in 2007 Twenty-20 Internationals (T20I) World Cup.

The fans opined that it is a big mistake to drop Yuvraj and destructive opener Sehwag.

"I am so surprised shocked & disappointed that Yuvi, Gauti,Zaheer doesn't find a place in India's 30... #RIPBCCI #Indias30," twitted a fan whose twitter handle read Devil’s Angel.

While some fans believed team India would not reach even the second round without these veterans, others believed it was a circle of life.

“Gambhir: Hero of the Final, Zaheer Khan: 21 wickets in WC Yuvi: Man of the series,No place for them now in India's 30. Circle of life,” tweeted cricket fan Rashi Kakkar.

On the other celebrated Television presenter Bhogle stated that if the veterans don’t play for India again, it is time people stood up and acknowledged their contribution.

“If Sehwag, Yuvi, Gambhir, Zaheer & Harbhajan don't play for India again, we must stand up & applaud their contribution to Indian cricket,” Bhogle posted.