It’s been almost been a month since the four-day trials for Railways finished, and till now, there is no final word on the players who will don the colours for the Twenty20 tournament, which begins on October 20.

Railways selectors had named a team, and two other probables’ lists for the Ranji Trophy and for the one-dayers, but the names have still not been finalised.

The reason: they had named players, who, after doing well for their respective associations last season, have shown reluctance to appear for their employers. And this has severely hampered the team’s build-up to the T20 tournament. Railways were keen to get Bhavik Thaker, Rajesh Bishnoi, Shivakant Shukla and M Suresh in their squad, after their stellar performances during the last season.

Fearing absentees, the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) had taken a firm stance, warning players who miss the trials of termination. But nothing seems to have worked as all the above players missed the trials and now have virtually ruled themselves out of selection. “We are short by few players because they are not here,” a source close to the team said.

The selectors and the team management could not be reached.

Thaker, who has been named Gujarat’s vice-captain for the upcoming T20 tournament, has quietly refused. “I will play for Gujarat. I have played for so many years here, how can I turn my back on them when they need me,” he told Sportline.

Railways’ keenness to acquire these players is understood. Shukla had scored 589 runs, including two centuries, in the last season for Uttar Pradesh, while Bhavik Thaker amassed 830 runs with a healthy average of 75.45 and M Suresh had 32 wickets to his name from nine matches.

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