Paceman Ajit Agarkar was today dropped while spin wizards Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were recalled to the squad for next week's Asia Cup after both missed India's last one-day series in Pakistan.
The national selectors also opted to have an additional wicketkeeper in Parthiv Patel in the 14-member squad announced by Board Secretary S.K. Nairin Chennai.Barring Agarkar's exclusion, there were no major surprises in the team which retains the nucleus of the side that tasted success in the recent series against Pakistan.
While Harbhajan returns to the one-day fold after a six-month injury layoff, Kumble makes it to the side after missing action in the one-day series in Pakistan.Missing out on berths from among the 20 probables were Rohan Gavaskar, Hemang Badani, Ramesh Powar, Amit Bhandari and MuraliKartik.
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"The selectors discussed all the probables before finalising the squad, taking into account the views of the team management who were represented by coach John Wright and captainSaurav Ganguly," said Nair who also announced the India 'A' team for the twin tours of Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Team: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid (vice-capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh,V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, LBalaji.
Left-arm pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who were also saddled with injury woes, secured berths in the squad for the six-nation tournament beginning on July 16 in Sri Lanka.
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The inclusion of these two pacemen, besides Harbhajan and Kumble, means India would be fielding a full strength bowling attack after a fairly long gap.
Young speedsters Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji, who had a successful tour of Pakistan, have been expectedly retained.
With Ganguly and Wright having made it clear that Rahul Dravid will continue to double up as wicketkeeper, the selection of young Patel comes as a surprise.
Patel will, however, give the team management the option of fielding a specialist wicketkeeper if the need arises.
Many of the Asia Cup campers, who were left out of the senior team, were accommodated in the India 'A' team for the tours starting later this month.
However, left-arm spinner Murali Kartik and Agarkar were not picked with the selectors wanting to give youngsters a chance.
"Agarkar and Kartik were not considered for the India 'A' tour as they were given opportunities earlier. The selectors also did not want to tax them as they are already experienced.
Asked to comment on the composition of the team, Nair said he was confident that the players would be able to regain the Asia Cup, which features title-holders Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,the UAE and Hong Kong.
"I am confident that the players will put in their optimum performance and regain the Asia Cup," he said.
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Nair said the Board's decision to have separate camps in Bangalore and Chennai had proved to be "worthwhile".
"All the probables who were seen in the Chennai camp are fully fit. This is a good beginning to the 2004 season," the BCCIsecretary said adding that the selection was unanimous.
However, sources said there was a prolonged discussion on whether to pick Harbhajan or Kartik.
Harbhajan finally got the nod as the selectors felt that he was "back to his usual form".
The offie had undergone surgery on his bowling hand after the first Test in Australia last December and missed the rest of the Test and one-day series against the world champions and the subsequent tour of Pakistan.
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On the India 'A' team, led by Sairaj Bahutule, Nair said the selectors had picked two new faces Dhiraj Jadhav and Yogesh Golvalkar to reward their performance in the domestic circuit.
India 'A' squad: Sairaj Bahutule (capt), Hemang Badani (vice-capt), Aakash Chopra, Gautam Gambhir, S. Sriram, Rohan Gavaskar, Dinesh Kartik, Amit Bhandari, Munaf Patel, Avishkar Salvi, M.S.Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, Dhiraj Jadhav, S.S. Paul, Yogesh Golvalkar.
Coach: Sandeep Patil.
PTI
