Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh on Monday lashed out at the MSK Prasad-led national selection panel, saying a better selection committee. He even talked about the players as they are avoiding to play fearless out of fear as they think that might throw them out of the squad.

“We do need better selectors, for sure. Selectors’ job is not easy. Whenever they select 15 players, there will be talks that what will happen to the other 15. It’s a difficult job but their thinking in terms of modern-day cricket is not up to the mark. It’s my opinion,” Yuvraj Singh told reporters.

“I am always in favour of protecting the players and being positive about them. By talking negative about your players and team doesn’t show you in true light. The character only shows when things are going wrong and you motivate the players. In bad times, everyone talks bad. We definitely need better selectors,” he said.

While he was asked about Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube, Yuvraj Singh also commented on that.

“Let the guy start his career first, and after a while when he reaches a certain level, then you start comparing him with someone. I don’t think he should be compared to me. He should make his own name. He has the talent,” he told.

“There are a couple of things that need to worked on his game. I am not sure if they will be able to identify where he is making the mistakes. Vikram Rathour is the batting coach, he needs to identify where he is making mistake. He (Rathour) is not someone who has played T20s, so I am not sure if he can tell what are the areas that he needs to work on. Give him some time and then expect results. Don’t expect results instantly,” he added.

Read here: Sourav Ganguly Shares His Learnings

Yuvraj took another jibe at the five-member panel regarding Vijay Shanka’s selection in the ICC World Cup.

“In between, there was your Vijay Shankar, now he has vanished. You play him and then remove him. How can you make players this way? You cannot produce players by giving them just three of four innings, you have to give somebody a longer run,” he added.

He also insisted that Rishabh Pant should also be given more chance.

“I won’t say he (Pant) is confused. He is a bit not sure whether to hit the ball or rotate the strike. Last night he was batting run a ball and got out. The good thing to see was he was taking a bit of time. He is the kind of guy, who can go straightaway go after bowling and who can also take time to go after bowling,” he expressed.

“He has only played 8-10 ODIs, so you got to give that guy a bit of time. You’ve to back your guys and say: ok, we’ve got to give this guy six months or a year to get better and try and play him as much as you can wherever you think he fits well and play,” he told.

Pant was not included in the recent home Test series against South Africa as Wriddhiman Saha had named for the series.

Also read: Aakash Chopra Comments on the Mental Health Issue of Glenn Maxwell

“Him not playing the Test match was not a great call, somebody who has scored 2 international 100s outside India and scored two 90s against West Indies, I don’t understand, his keeping could have been a concern but I think you got to groom your guys better,” said Yuvraj Singh.

“He is a good No.4, No.5. Obviously, people don’t realise that Rishabh was an opener. He always wanted to open the innings and he would go big, opening. He is not the guy who knows how to rotate strike and then go big. He is trying to do that. That’s why, you need to give him time. He is changing his game, we got to give him some time,” he explained.

Yuvraj Singh further claimed that Sourav Ganguly as BCCI President will bring the changes as he thinks players are avoiding to play boldly.

“We deserve it. Because there are a lot of times we have been asked to play cricket that we don’t want to. We have to play with the pressure that if we don’t play we will be thrown out,” Yuvraj told reporters here. “That pressure has to go off the players that even if they are tired or fatigued or carrying injuries, they have to play. Our players can’t do that because they fear they may lose their place. So a players’ association is very important.”

Yuvraj Singh will play in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, which will be televised on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3 from November 15.