India, March 31 -- ISLAMABAD The Indian cricket team for the 1932 tour of England was picked on a quota basis and Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji and Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi could have played for India, but did not, according to Majid Khan, the graceful and attacking top order batsman of the 1960s, '70s and '80s who also captained Pakistan.

He was speaking on the basis of what his father, Dr Jahangir Khan, told him, he having been a member of the squad. The tour marked India's maiden appearance in official international cricket.

"The 1932 Indian cricket team for England was not picked on merit, but on a quota basis to give representation to the various communities. It was a 'divide-and-rule' system of selection," he said.

The one an...