Kumble, Zaheer On Comeback Trail

The national selectors today recalled seasoned campaigners Anil Kumble andZaheer Khan in a 16-member Indian squad for the upcoming one-day series againstSouth Africa while reposing faith in a few under-performing cricketers.

Mumbai opener Wasim Jaffer, regarded as a Test specialist and yet to play ina one-dayer, was a surprise inclusion while paceman Rudra Pratap Singh andspinner Ramesh Powar, who were in the Champions Trophy squad, were dropped.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly was expectedly ignored again while the likes ofin-form Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa were also not picked in the squad,announced by BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah after an hour-long selection committeemeeting here.

The stylish VVS Laxman also failed to find favour with the selectors who feltthat he was not fully fit to play at the international level at the moment.

The return of stalwarts like Kumble will provide some experience to thebowling attack which has also been strengthened by the recall of Zaheer,rewarded for his consistent performance in English county and domestic matches.

Yuvraj Singh, who sustained a ligament injury on the eve of the crucialChampions Trophy tie against Australia which India lost to bow out of thechampionship, and another injured player Ajit Agarkar have been provisionallyincluded.

"They will undergo a fitness test on November 10. If Agarkar is fit hewill go, otherwise VRV Singh will go in his place. Dinesh Karthick will beYuvraj's replacement if he is not fit," Shah said.

Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who chaired his first meeting since takingover the mantle from Kiran More in late September, said Jaffer was preferredover some other contenders like Gambhir and Uthappa considering the hard andbouncy tracks in South Africa.

"Jaffer has the right technique to succeed on such tracks and that iswhy we thought that he should be in the team," the former Indian captainsaid.

Vengsarkar said wholesale changes were not required in the squad though theselectors were concerned by the sliding fortunes of the team.

"I don't think we need to make wholesale changes in the team. Someplayers have been performing while there are others who have not done too well.We think this is a balanced team and should be able to do well in SouthAfrica," he said.

In an attempt to justify the places of some of the players who have beengoing through a prolonged form slump, Vengsarkar said they did not have"exceptional" talent in reserves.

"Let me be honest with you. There is not much talent in the country.Some of the first class cricketers are still not ready for internationalcricket. There is no exceptional talent," he said.

Commenting on the team's dismal performance of late, Vengsarkar said,"The team needs to improve in many areas. The batsmen have to play till theend in one-dayers, then only we can win. The bowlers have to improve also."

On Laxman's omission from the team, he said the selectors felt that he wasnot fully fit to play at the international stage.

"We have seen him in Duleep Trophy matches and we felt he was still notfit."

Vengsarkar also categorically stated that there was no question of reviewingRahul Dravid's position as captain, saying he was named captain till the WorldCup and there would be no change.

On Kumble's inclusion, Vengsarkar said, "He is a fantastic bowler andhis record speaks for itself. He is an integral part of the one-day team."

Zaheer, who last played a one-day game against Pakistan in February 2006, wasexpected to stage a comeback by virtue of his performances in domestic matches.The poor form of some of the regular pacemen like Irfan Pathan and R P Singhalso made it easier for him to squeeze back into the side.

Asked whether Ganguly's name was considered, Vengsarkar said "we did notdiscuss his name".

The team will leave for South Africa from Mumbai on November 13. The firstmatch is scheduled to be held on November 19 at Centurion. The five-matchone-day series will be followed by three Tests, the squad for which would benamed later.

Squad: Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), SachinTendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad. Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, MunafPatel, S Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, HarbhajanSingh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar/VRV Singh, Yuvraj Singh/Dinesh Kaarthick.

PTI