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| Manoj Tiwary |
Calcutta: The 16-man squad for the two T20 Internationals and the tri-series in Australia, beginning next month, is unlikely to feature a new face.
So, prepare to see a tried and tested lot turning out for the 50-over world champions.
The national selectors are scheduled to meet in Chennai at 4 pm on Sunday, an hour after the scheduled close of the day’s play in Perth. As things stand, the Test (and series) could be over by then.
All five selectors — chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave, Raja Venkat — are expected to be present.
Bhave and Raja Venkat were to have been in Perth, but a change in plan has spared them the embarrassment of watching the latest humiliation in person.
Both will, however, reach Australia before the fourth and final Test, in Adelaide.
While Manoj Tiwary looks a certainty, thanks to the hundred in his last ODI, just over a month ago, his state mates Wriddhiman Saha and Ashok Dinda appear to have lost out.
Yuvraj Singh, meanwhile, isn’t the only big name not available for selection. Still recovering from shin splints in his left leg is Harbhajan Singh, who is yet to resume bowling.
Off cricket for quite some time, Harbhajan hasn’t played for India after the Trent Bridge Test, last August.
Indications are that Harbhajan may be able to start bowling after two-three weeks.
As for Yuvraj, the latest scan of his chest has brought no cheer and well-wishers have gone back to praying for his speedy recovery.
Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel have recovered from injuries, but not Varun Aaron. Praveen is assured of a place in the 16, but Munaf isn’t in the scheme of things.
According to a well-placed source of The Telegraph, Srikkanth and his colleagues are “assuming” that senior-most pro Sachin Tendulkar is available for selection.
The LIKELY 16
(Assuming Sachin is available)
BATSMEN: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Virat Kohli.
’KEEPERS: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Parthiv Patel.
ALL-ROUNDER: Ravindra Jadeja.
SPINNERS: Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Sharma.
MEDIUM-PACERS: Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ranganath Vinay Kumar.
DARK HORSE: Irfan Pathan.
NOTE: Ajinkya Rahane should get in if Sachin is unavailable.
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