New Delhi, March 4:

Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar was taken to task by a cricket official on Sunday after saying out-of-form batsman Virender Sehwag was included on India’s World Cup team at skipper Rahul Dravid’s insistence.

In an interview with CNN-IBN television news channel, Vengsarkar said if Dravid hadn’t demanded Sehwag’s inclusion he may not have been on the team.

Vengsarkar’s comments on Saturday could only lead to controversy ahead of India’s campaign in the World Cup, Rajiv Shukla, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, told reporters.

“The team is selected by five selectors in consultation with the captain and the coach. Selection issues should not come out in the open,” said Shukla. “It creates unnecessary controversy before the Cup.”