Q. Were you a late find... i.e. do you think that you came into the contention at a very late age and that was the reason for you not being selected into the National squad...
A. No, I started playing my game at a very early age. I used to play cricket when I was in school and later for Nizam College and Cantonment Board. I played in the A - Division and in the same year Mr Shyam Lal of Andhra Bank picked me up into the VST team for the Moinuddoula Tournament. But again due to some reasons I was not into the final eleven. In 1980 - 81, I played my first Ranji game against Andhra and from there... it’s a long story now.

Q. If I am not wrong... you played for Tamil Nadu for one year... and incidentally that was the year when Hyderabad won the Ranji Trophy... how did you react at that time.
A. Yes, for one season, i.e. 1986 I played for Tamilnadu, I got the chance to play in 2 games and once again the same, regional bias came into effect. Srikanth (Krishnamachari) came to me and said " Look Kanwal, I know you are a good bowler, but since you are an outsider, I can’t help you". They used to make me bowl like anything at the nets, but when it came to the final selection, the same old names used to be repeated.

Q. Do you feel that the selection policy in India is absurd...
A. Of course, let me tell you one thing. When I was in 20's they used to say that he is too young to play at the Test level and now they say that he is too old. During the last Australian series, I asked them to see me at the camp and check for my fitness levels. I do not say that I am as fit as a 20-year-old is, but I am much better than many of them in the team. I am sorry to say that the media is really biased, the Bombay media promotes their own players...no matter how big an ass he might be. The same goes with some other states also.

Q. Do you feel that the media plays an important role in selection policy?
A. Yes, the selectors go by what the media says, inspite of having played so much cricket themselves and after seeing someone perform... they succumb to the hype created by the media. No one goes according to the fact and figures. If anyone has to go by statistics, let them show me a bowler who has been as consistent as I was in the domestic circuit and did not get a chance at the Test level.

Q. What went through your mind when your other teammates like Raju, Azhar, Noel and Laxman made it to the big league, but you were left over...
A. It was very disappointing, at a time when I knew through the media that I was going to the West Indies and finally it was Noel David who went there. It really hurt like anything. They have done injustice to him as well. The same happened during the last Australian series when I asked them to give me a chance and test me. But it was Hirwani who got in and  he too was not played. This is simply rubbish.

Q. What do you have to say about Laxman, you have been seeing him right from the beginning of his career?
A. I always have been saying  "He is the man to watch out for". After Sachin if there is any player in the Indian team who can dictate terms to the bowlers, it is Laxman. His innings against the Aussies at Sydney was the best according to me. One could see the real Laxman during that innings. And coming to his performance in the last series, I would say that it was just a dream run.

Q. Who was your mentor and idol in cricket?
A. Of course Mr. Jaishima. I remember the instance when he asked me to continue with the game, when I was planning to call it a day. He asked me to continue playing and said " I know that you are the best, forget about the selection, just keep on playing". Those words were really like gospel for me. Though my association with him was for the last three years of his life, he was a legend for every one of us. He would never let anyone feel about his greatness, he is such a humble man. The love for the game was in his heart and soul.

Q. Finally, tell me what keeps you motivating to play the game inspite of all these politics?
A. Basically it is the love for the game. See it is the game which has given me everything, without cricket I don’t know where I would have been. Everytime when I see the players in the National squad, I feel that I am much better than them and the fire is always in me.