Former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad on Thursday said that with all-rounder Hardik Pandya not bowling in the ongoing Indian Premier League ahead of the T20 World Cup is not a good sign for Team India.

The T20 World Cup gets underway from October 17 in the UAE and Oman and Prasad feels that selectors should have added one more pacer to the final 15.

“It is a decent squad but I feel that they are one fast bowler short actually …because we are playing the majority of the matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so maybe one more fast bowler could have been handy,” Prasad told PTI.

“Had we played more matches in Sharjah, this was okay, but one fast bowler could have (been there) and more important with Hardik not bowling, I think it is a little cause of concern,” he added.

India will start their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24 at the Dubai International Stadium.

All-rounder Pandya, a key member of the team, has not been bowling for five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians in the current UAE leg of the IPL.

“See, Hardik has been picked as an all-rounder, not as a batsman, he is seen an all-rounder, who will add what you call balance to the side.

“…(it is) a little surprising that, or I don’t know whether he is being instructed, not to bowl or he is being preserved to bowl only in the World Cup,” he said.

“We don’t exactly know, but in an ideal scenario, Hardik has been picked as an all-rounder, I would love to see him bowling.

“I don’t know what exactly the thought process is because selectors must be knowing it, or the Board must be knowing it, but Hardik, if he doesn’t bowl then there will be little, I mean, the balance of the side will get a little affected,” said Prasad.