As per the regulations outlined by the Asian Cricket Council, each participating team is granted the opportunity to assemble a squad of 17 players for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Indian cricket enthusiasts await the revelation of the Asia Cup squad, a disclosure that could offer insights into the ODI World Cup roster as well. The selection committee, led by former cricketer Ajit Agarkar, is poised to unveil the 17-member team list for the continental tournament, slated to commence from August 30. The impending announcement is of particular significance, as a few positions in the World Cup squad are still open for contention.

In light of KL Rahul’s (thigh) and Shreyas Iyer’s (lower back) ongoing fitness evaluations, the BCCI officials and selectors are inclined to adopt a conservative approach for the Asia Cup squad, as reported by PTI. This strategic move not only assures stability for the team but also permits the exploration of backup options during the upcoming matches in Sri Lanka—five initially, with the potential for six if the team reaches the final.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Shreyas Iyer’s recent performance in a practice match under the supervision of NCA chief VVS Laxman and batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar has been encouraging. Iyer’s extended fielding and batting stint without discomfort are positive indicators. On the other hand, KL Rahul, absent from the previous match, is set to join Iyer in the second practice game on Sunday.

Following the guidelines of the Asian Cricket Council, both Pakistan and Bangladesh have already revealed their 17-member squads for the Asia Cup. India seems likely to follow suit, as indicated by a PTI report. This could also involve crafting a provisional 15-member squad for the World Cup, to be submitted to the ICC by September 5. Importantly, teams retain the liberty to make modifications until the final squad submission on September 27.

A confidential source from the BCCI stated, “There is a possibility of picking the provisional 15-member squad for the World Cup which needs to be submitted by September 5 but one could make changes as the deadline for final squad is September 27. For Asia Cup, a couple of more players could be picked.”

In a departure from convention, former cricketer Rahul Dravid will be part of the team selection meeting—an opportunity not extended to previous head coaches like Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble. This historic shift allows Dravid to participate, although neither he nor captain Rohit Sharma will possess voting rights. This contrasts with Cricket Australia’s practice, where the chief coach is a member of the National Selection Panel.