Selection dilemma for defending champions India ahead of Twenty20 Asia Cup in UAE next month

After continuous chatter of well over a week, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to meet on Tuesday to finalise India's squad for the Men's T20 Asia Cup, happening in the UAE from Sept. 9-28.

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Whoever is picked for the eight-team tournament will also be sureshot figures in the defending champions’ buildup to next year’s Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

With India’s opening match scheduled for Sept. IO, the spotlight is firmly on the fate of Shreyas Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag, as IANS understands that these four names are likely to be discussed in detail by the five-member selection committee.

With Suryakumar Yadav set to lead after making considerable progress in his rehab post hernia operation, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are certain to retain their places after being opening batters since the home series against Bangladesh last year.

Despite enduring an inconsistent IPL season more so due to a side strain injury and being troubled by Jofra Archer's hard lengths and extra pace in T20Is against England this year, Samson could just hold on to his place in the team, especially with the Indian team management inclined to back its core set of players.