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| December 15, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 12, 1426 |
Ganguly axed from Test side
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: Saurav Ganguly was dropped from India’s Test squad on Wednesday, all but ending the international career of the country’s most successful captain. The 33-year-old batsman was left out of the 15-man squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka starting in Ahmedabad on Sunday after scoring 40 and 39 in the second Test in New Delhi.
Ganguly was sacked as captain and omitted from the one-day squad in October following a prolonged batting slump and a spat with coach Greg Chappell.
Chief selector Kiran More told reporters on Wednesday that 24-year-old batsman Yuvraj Singh, who hit a polished 77 not out in the second Test, could not be kept out of the side any longer.
More said other talented players such as Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina also needed exposure with tough series against Pakistan and England coming up.
India travel across the border to Pakistan for a Test and one-day series next month and face England at home from February.
“Our middle-order is very strong,” More said. “We have some concerns only with the opening slot.”
In-form Mumbai opening batsman Wasim Jaffer, who last played during the 2002 Test tour of West Indies, was recalled in the only change from the first two Tests.
Rahul Dravid was retained as captain for the Pakistan and England series.
Squad: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Wasim Jaffer, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Murali Kartik.—Reuters
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