Going by the logic of 30-something cricketers leaving the game to the youngsters, half of the Railways team will have to sit out. Starting with their captain Sanjay Bangar, who is 36-year-old, this team shorn of superstars, is full of members, who are either on the brink of falling to the wrong side of the 30s or have already crossed that cussed landmark.

Kulamani Parida (31), Amit Pagnis (30), Harvinder Singh (31), Murali Kartik (32) and Raja Ali (32) - are still going strong on the domestic front, showing no signs of age.

And amid all these talks of ageing ‘Fab four’, the Railways is a great case of a team, who select their players, based on form, fitness and performance — and not because they are younger.

Speak to them and all these talks of young versus old are reverse swept to oblivion.

“I don't think any team can be picked with age as a criteria. Performance has to be the key to selections. If I am fit and in form, I don’t see any reason why I should be dropped,” says Pagnis, who has over five thousand runs in first class cricket.

Fitting rebuttal

Bangar himself a veteran in domestic circuit, believes that with trainers keeping players like him fit, and with dietary awareness, players can further their careers at any level.

“We train and eat well, we get good guidance from coaches and trainers to stay fit so why shouldn’t the seniors keep on playing,” Bangar quips.

... contd.