23 March 2004	Tuesday	01 Safar 1425

NEW DELHI, March 22: Experienced leg-spinner Anil Kumble, seamer Ajit Agarkar and opener Akash Chopra will join the Indian team for an upcoming Test series against Pakistan, a top official announced here on Monday.

"Kumble and Agarkar have recovered from injuries and Chopra is our regular Test opener who the selectors want to persist with," cricket board secretary Karunakaran Nair told reporters.

Kumble (shoulder) and Agarkar (shin) missed the ongoing one-dayers due to injuries but were picked to strengthen the bowling attack for the three-Test series starting in Multan on March 28.

"They have not played any first-class match after recovering but have been certified fit and we have got reports that they are bowling well in practice sessions," Nair said.

The board secretary said that one-day specialist Mohammad Kaif, left-handed batsman Hemang Badani and seamer Amit Bhandari would return after the one-dayers.

"Bhandari was sent as Ashish Nehra's replacement for the one-dayers and since Agarkar is joining the team we are asking Bhandari to return," he said. Left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh also found a place in the Test squad on the basis of his recent run in domestic cricket.

"Since Yuvraj got a century in each innings for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at Mohali earlier this month, the selectors thought he deserved a place in the Test team," Nair said.

The Duleep Trophy is a top domestic tournament of five-day matches between five zonal sides of the country. An England 'A' side also participated this year.

Kumble will form the spin attack along with left-armer Murali Kartik and all-rounder Ramesh Powar as regular off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was still nursing an injured finger.

Kumble is India's second most successful bowler in Tests after legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, having taken 382 wickets in 81 Tests. India are playing their first Test series across the border in almost 15 years.

Squad: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice-captain), Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Laxmipathy Balaji, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Ramesh Powar, Murali Kartik. -AFP