Indian cricket team for ICC World Cup 2019 to be decided before April 20: Reports

The Indian Premier League is normally the marquee tournament for the Indian cricket team. However, the 2019 edition of the tournament is especially important for it is being played before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 which will be held in England from May 30. Most of the core of the Indian cricket team are fighting it out for their various franchises in the IPL. Following the end of the Australia series, India skipper Virat Kohli gave a brief description of what India's World Cup squad could be. “As a side, combination wise, we are sorted. Condition based, there is one maximum change in the World Cup. We are clear on the playing XI for World Cup. We have to focus on the decisions that resulted in our loss. Hardik Pandya's return balances the batting and the bowling. We knw where we are going in the World Cup as a combination. We have to take better decisions in the pressure situations. There is no confusion relating to combination or the playing XI,” Kohli had said. 

According to the ICC playing conditions, under the new Members Playing Agreement (MPA) which came into effect since 2016, the teams need to submit their final 15-man squad lists for the WC a month prior to the event. According to various media reports, the selection of the Indian cricket team could happen as early as April 20. 

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In a report on Times Now, India's chief selector MSK Prasad has been quoted as saying, “As far as Indian cricket team is concerned, we will be announcing our team for the World Cup on or before April 20. I am confident that we are going to announce a good team. We have worked on this for almost one and a half years. We have observed all the players, tested good combinations. We are confident that the team we will announce, will definitely win the World Cup to be held in England in 2019,” Prasad said. 

India will begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton but all eyes will be on the June 16 encounter against arch-rivals, Pakistan. Since the Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF jawans, there have been calls to boycott the match against Pakistan as protests against the terror activities of Pakistan.

HIGHLIGHTS

• India will open their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5.
• Australia are the five-time World Cup champions and current defending champions.
• India will take on Pakistan in a high-voltage game on June 16.