Dhaka, May 24: Yuvraj Singh and VVS Laxman are left out in the cold once again while young pacer Ishant Sharma and left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar are fighting for a place in the Indian eleven for the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh starting here tomorrow.

The Indians dropped Punjab pacer VRV Singh while including Pawar in the shortlisted 12, retaining the option of playing either three fast bowlers or as many slow bowlers.

Should they be picked, it will mark their India debut - in either form of the game - for both Sharma and Pawar.

Explaining the rationale for keeping out seasoned campaigner Laxman and the talented Yuvraj Singh, Dravid said that there were five batsmen fighting for only three slots in the middle order.

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"On this tour, after seeing the conditions, we were very keen on playing five bowlers. Laxman is fighting for one of the three slots in the middle order," Dravid said. "Between myself, Sachin, Sourav, Laxman and Yuvraj we are fighting for three slots, while its true that in some situations during some tours we do have four slots in the middle.

"It is unfortunate that both VVS and Yuvraj had to miss out. That's just the way it is. It's not an easy decision for me, it never has been. Never will be." Dravid said that Sharma's chances of making a debut would depend on whether the team management decides to go for three pacers or spinners after seeing the wicket.

"We are keeping open the option of playing either the third spinner or a third quick," the 34-year-old Bangalorean said at the match-eve media briefing. On the reasons for retaining opener Wasim Jaffer despite his pair in the Chittagong Test, Dravid said it was decided not to change the opening combination after only one game.

Seeking to end all talks of Dinesh Kaarthick being a stop-gap opener, Dravid said that it did not matter whether he was a specialist or not as long as he kept scoring runs. "He is scoring runs. It does not matter what you are. Whether you are a specialist, regular or non-regular.

"In my ten years of playing for India, the guy who has been the most consistent and got runs as an opener for us is a middle order batsman who has been converted into an opener. "It does not matter who you are if you have the technique, guts, courage and willingness," he said. (Agencies)