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COLOMBO, Sept 27: India have called up veteran quick bowler Javagal Srinath into the squad ahead of the Champions Trophy final Sunday after an injury to Ashish Nehra.
“We have asked him to go over to Colombo from England,” Karunakaran Nair, secretary of the Indian board, told Reuters by phone from Bombay.
The 32-year-old Srinath, who retired from Test cricket in June, was overlooked for the event despite his willingness to play one-day internationals in a bid to play in the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Left-arm paceman Nehra tore the webbing on his bowling hand Wednesday after crashing into the stumps attempting a run-out during India’s victory over South Africa in the semi-finals. The injury required five stitches.
All-rounder Ajit Agarkar, along with Zaheer Khan, are the other pacemen in the Indian squad.
GANGULY RETAINED
India’s revamped cricket selecton committee expectedly retained Sourav Ganguly as captain for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, officials said Friday.
The elegant left-hander will lead India in three Test matches and seven one-day internationals against the West Indians in October and November, cricket board secretary Karunakaran Nair said.
But the new selection panel, headed by former Test batsman Brijesh Patel, resisted giving Ganguly a longer term till the World Cup in South Africa early next year.
One-day batting star Mohammad Kaif was, meanwhile, named captain of the board president’s team to play the West Indies in the three-day tour opener at Bangalore from Oct 4.
The home team includes nine players who have played for India in Tests and one-day internationals in recent years.
The first Test will be played at Bombay from Oct 9-13, the second in Madras from Oct 17-21 and the third in Calcutta from Oct 30 to Nov 3.
Board president’s team:
Muhammad Kaif (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sanjay Bangar, Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Amit Mishra, Murali Kartik, Laxmi Balaji, Tinu Yohannan, Ajay Ratra, Sarandeep Singh, Irfan Pathan, Aakash Chopra.—AFP
