October 28, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 15, 1428

NEW DELHI, Oct 27: Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is most likely to be named India’s Test captain for the upcoming series against Pakistan, sources close to Indian cricket board said on Saturday.

Even as the Indian selectors are all set to announce the Indian team for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan later on Saturday, it has been learnt that the selectors might opt to go for a split captaincy for Tests and one-dayers.

Sachin Tendulkar has reportedly agreed to take over the Test captaincy. According to reports, he will be the captain for the next 10 Test matches — three against Pakistan, four against Australia in Australia and three against South Africa at home — until April 2008.

Tendulkar has also been outspoken about his intentions to phase himself out of the one day arena to concentrate on Test cricket, while Dhoni already has the added responsibility of wicketkeeping.

In the past, Tendulkar has had a mediocre record as Test captain, leading the side in 25 Tests of which India won four and lost nine. As a batsman too, Tendulkar has scored seven centuries as skipper.

The star Indian batsman captained India on two previous occasions, where he first succeeded Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996 after the tour of England and a few years later he was named captain for the Pepsi Cup tri-series despite his reluctance to take up the job.

Tendulkar finally relinquished captaincy after the two-Test series against South Africa in 2000.—Agencies