May 29, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1428

NEW DELHI, May 28: Leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of next month's Afro-Asia Cup one-day series being held in India. “Tendulkar has informed the Indian board and they have in turn told the Asian Cricket Council (ACC),” Asian team selector and former India opener Chetan Chauhan said on Monday.

Tendulkar hit two centuries in India's 1-0 Test series win in Bangladesh on Sunday and was named the player of the series.

Compatriot Saurav Ganguly will replace him in the Asia squad for the three one-dayers against an Africa XI on June 6 in Bangalore and in Chennai on June 9 and 10.

Pakistan strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Sri Lankan pace duo Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga have already pulled out of the series created to raise funds for the Asian and African boards.

India's Zaheer Khan would replace fellow left-arm paceman Vaas and Sri Lankan Farveez Maharoof would come in for Malinga, Chauhan added.

Meanwhile, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, who had to opt out of the Bangladesh tour due to injury, makes his return to international cricket after being named as Munaf Patel’s replacement in the 11-member Twenty20 team.

The Twenty20 match will be played in Bangalore on June 5.

Asia ODI squad: Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Saurav Ganguly, Mohammad Yousuf, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Dilhara Fernando, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Asif.

Asia Twenty20 squad: Tamim Iqbal, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Ashraful, Shoaib Malik (captain), Tillekeratne Dilshan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Farveez Maharoof, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shantakumaran Sreesanth.—Agencies