With top players pulling out, national cricket selectors today opted to inject new blood byincluding rookie speedster Avishkar Salvi and prolific Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir and two other fresh faces in the 15-member Indian squad for the triangular series in Dhaka from April 11-20.
Middle-order batsman Abhijit Kale and leg spinner Amit Mishra are the two other newcomers in the new-look squad whichwill have Virender Sehwag as the vice-captain.
The vacancies arose after top batsman Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehraopted out of the tour on various grounds.
The rest of the members of the World Cup squad have been retained including those who did not get a look-in -- SanjayBangar, Ajit Agarkar and Parthiv Patel.
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The only surprise inclusion in the squad announced by BCCI secretary S K Nairat Mumbai was off-spinner Sarandeep Singh who has been recalled after a fairly long gap.
"These players got the nod on the basis of their consistent performance in the domestic cricket and during India A's tour of West Indies," Nair told reporters.
V.V.S. Laxman, skipper of the India A team, and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik were not considered for selection asthey were carrying injuries.
Team: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, DineshMongia, Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Avishkar Salvi, Amit Mishra, SanjayBangar, Abhijit Kale, Zaheer Khan.
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Nair said both Tendulkar and Nehra will have to undergo surgery and could be out of action for at least five to sixweeks.
"Srinath had asked for rest while Kumble said he had some urgent personal matter to attend to. So they were notconsidered for selection," Nair said.
The 21-year-old Mumbai speedster Salvi's inclusion was a foregone conclusion after his stellar performance during IndiaA's tour of the West Indies. He was dubbed as the "find of the tour" by coach Ashok Malhotra after he grabbed as many as 31wickets.
Gambhir, who aggregated 617 runs on the tour and has been on the selection fringe for quite some time, was finallyrewarded for his consistency over the past two years.
In Tendulkar's absence, Gambhir is expected to take the opener's slot alongwith either Sehwag or captainSaurav Ganguly.
Middle-order batsman Kale will be stepping into the shoes of Rahul Dravid who pulled out due to a finger injurysustained during the World Cup semi-final against Kenya.
The Dhaka tourney will offer young Parthiv Patel, the lone wicketkeeper in the squad, a chance to showcase hisskills with the gloves after he was forced to watch the World Cup action from the sidelines.
The selectors preferred to strengthen the spin department considering the slow tracks of the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka by inducting three specialist spinners at the expense of a medium-pacer.
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The team will leave for Dhaka from Kolkata on April 9.
PTI
