Skipper Rahul Dravid today virtually gave the thumbs up for the struggling Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan for a berth in India's World Cup squad,
saying that past performance will be a factor while choosing the team for the
mega event. 
Dravid said there would not be added pressure on any player
in the second cricket one-dayer against Sri Lanka here tomorrow as none
would be judged on one performance.
"We don't view this match as an added pressure because
of the World Cup selection meeting (in Mumbai on Monday). We are not going to
judge our World Cup team based on performance in just one or two games,"
Dravid told a pre-match media conference at the Madhavrao Scindia ground here.
"When you pick the World Cup squad you need to look at
the combination you might play in the West Indies, on the conditions there,
the records of the players in the past.
"You have to base your judgement on a lot of things and not on performance
in one game. From that point of view, it's not really a factor," he said.
While Sehwag, who was not picked for the entire series of four
matches against the West Indies recently, did not get a chance to bat
or bowl in the rained-out first ODI at Kolkata, Pathan has done precious little
to enhance his claims after being recalled to the team following his poor display
in South Africa.
Sehwag would play in the middle order tomorrow, with Dravid
making it clear that Sourav Ganguly and Robin Uthappa would open
the innings.
On the other hand, Dravid today sought to distance himself
and his team from the match-fixing scandal surrounding West Indies cricketer
Marlon Samuels, saying everyone in the Indian side was focussed on self and
team improvement.
"Controversies are part and parcel of playing cricket
in India. For the last three or four years, there never has been a time when
there has been no controversy," Dravid said.
"As cricketers we have to deal with it, move on and focus on our cricket,
get good performances in and keep improving as a team”.
"There is a lot of interest regarding cricket and a lot of speculations.
We can't change it," he said.
Samuels was caught discussing over phone team details with
alleged bookie Mukesh Kochar ahead of the Jan 21 one-dayer in Nagpur.
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