Time for infusion of young blood in team: Pawar

ICC president Sharad Pawar on Saturday called for infusion of young blood in the Indian cricket team following its disastrous Test tour of Australia.

Pawar, a former BCCI president, however, said it is not the job of the cricket Board to axe senior players who came a cropper in Australia, where India lost the four-match series 0-4. He said only the selectors can take such a decision.

"Time has come for some changes in the Indian cricket team. The team should now infuse younger generation.

"One has to take risk and give opportunity to younger generation. Such a move might change the entire atmosphere in the team," Pawar said.

"Lots of senior players in the team have been very useful but they are not doing well. Time has definitely come to give chances to the youngsters. There are a galaxy of young talented cricketers in the country to be included," he told CNN-IBN.

Asked about India's disastrous performance in England and Australia, Pawar replied, "They have not done well and there are rooms for improvement."

Pawar refused to comment on the speculation that some senior players would get the boot, saying the BCCI has no role in such a decision.

"I don't think that the players or the BCCI has any role in this. It is the job of the selection committee. During my time as president of BCCI I have never discussed with the selectors to include or exclude any player. It must also be the same during the time of Shashank Manohar and the current dispensation," said Pawar, who is also agriculture minister.