|
Chennai lad Sriram in ODI squad against Pakistan
Mumbai, Nov 6: The national cricket selectors today recalled Yuvraj Singh and included Sridharan Sriram in the 15-member strong India squad, to be captained by Sourav Ganguly, to take on Pakistan in the Platinum Jubilee One-Day International to be played at Kolkata on November 13. Announcing the team after a lengthy meeting that lasted more than three hours, convener Ratnakar Shetty said that Ganguly has written a letter to the Cricket Board (BCCI) that he will be fit for the match, but will be subjected to a fitness test prior to the match on November 10.
Ganguly did not play in the last two Test matches of the four-Test series against Australia, which concluded here yesterday, because of a thigh strain. Young 'keeper Dinesh Kaarthick, who made his Test debut against Australia in the final Test here, also gained a berth, but the notable omission was left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who got the man of the match award in the Test won here so sensationally by India by 13 runs inside three days.
"The selectors felt that it was hard on Kartik but he had to be left out as only two spinners can be accommodated in the ODI squad and Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble are the top two spinners in the country," Shetty said. The selectors also chose the Board President's XI squad to take on South Africa in the three-day tour opener at Jaipur commencing on November 14.
Left arm paceman Irfan Pathan, who missed the last two Tests against Australia like Ganguly because of a side strain, has regained full fitness and started bowling in the nets in his home town Baroda, Shetty said. (Agencies)
Published: Saturday, November 06, 2004
|