Mascarenhas upset at Stanford axe

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 15:14:00 2008

All-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has revealed his disappointment at being overlooked for the England squad for the lucrative Stanford Super Series.

CRICKET Dimitri Mascarenhas celebrates with his England team-mates - 0

The Hampshire captain (pictured centre) had been a regular in England's limited-overs set-up since making his ODI debut in July 2007 and has 10 Twenty20 caps to his name, making him one of the more experienced players in the format.

He was also the only English player to take part in the Indian Premier League extravaganza, playing a small part for Shane Warne's victorious Rajasthan Royals.

But his subsequent exclusion from the 15-man squad, which is set to contest a £10 million winner-takes-all clash with the West Indies All Stars, has left him sorely frustrated.

"It would have been nice to play for England, but that's not to be," said Mascarenhas. "I didn't get a call so I rang up a few days after and organised a meeting with [national selector] Geoff Miller.

"He didn't say a lot really; there are four selectors and they select the best side they think. Unfortunately there was no spot for me.

"But I've been in for a year and played every single Twenty20 game in that year. What is disappointing is to have been involved for every game and then miss out on the big one."

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel booked one of the places in England's squad with some fine displays against South Africa in the recent one-day series, but the inclusion of Alastair Cook - hardly renowned for his prowess in the shorter game - is more confusing.

Mascarenhas said: "He [Miller] has said that the door is still open but we'll have to wait and see because you can't say I haven't been performing - I'm only 12 runs short of my best-ever year with the bat in the championship.

"Samit Patel came in and did well so he has more than warranted his spot but I still think there was a spot for me, as do a lot of people."

The Stanford organisers are currently involved in a rights dispute with West Indies team sponsors Digicel, but have played down speculation it threatens to derail the competition.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 6 of 6

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  1. IT IS WRONG MOVE BY THE ENGLAND SELECTORS MASECA IS­ THE BEST T 20 PLAYER IN ENGLAND BUT NO PLACE FOR HIM­ CAUSE . NOT SURE WHY?????????????WHAT ABOUT THE 5 SIX­ IN A OVER FORGOT ABOUT THAT HAS KP OR FERRDE HAS DONE­ IT SO THAT IS WHY ? I FEEL SORRY FOR HIM NOT GETTING­ PLACE ANYWHERE . BEST THING IS TO GO BACK TO SL THERE­ WILL GIVE HIM CHACNE TO PLAY . NOT AUSSIE OR ENGLAND .­ SAD BUT THIS IS THE STROY OF MASECA. WORLD HAS LOST A­ GREATE PLAYER. WHY DO YOU DO WELL FAIL MATE THEN THERE­ WILL GIVE YOU PLACE

    From shifaz, on Thu 25 Sep 2:56AM

  2. Dimi,you went to India to play,and you earned some­ money.They didnot like what u did. Had u been­ Vaughan
    you would have been chosen. Dimi u live in­ UK.Learn to lick the right bums like Vaughan.

    From pinpatel51, on Wed 24 Sep 6:08PM

  3. I honestly think that mascar should have played.­ Whenever he has played one day or t-20 for england hs­ has rarely diappointed. This is a bad decision by the­ selectors not to pick him.

    From 88, on Wed 24 Sep 11:58AM

  4. Forgetting the issue of money for the vriefest of­ seconds I think Dimi has a very valid point on his­ omission from the 20/20 full stop, particularly when we­ consider that Cook IS included in the 15. But that­ money WAS a factor in selection for the Stamford circus­ there is little doubt despite what Windy Miller might­ say. You could pick the test team from that squad. And­ being a test player doesn't make you the best­ choice for 20/20 or even the 50 over game. Two of our­ finest test batsmen in the last decade or so proved­ completely inept at the 50 over game, Vaughan and­ Nasser...

    From nocohere, on Wed 24 Sep 10:11AM

  5. And so it begins.
    Money breeds discontent
    masca wont be­ the last.

    From EDWARD W, on Tue 23 Sep 11:05PM

  6. i thinks its outragous, mascarenhas being overlooked,­ he'd have been of more use to the team than­ harmison and cook put together, hes the best twenty20­ player in england by far and they stiff him, i hope the­ west indies win the money

    From djzion09, on Tue 23 Sep 7:14PM
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