The Hindu : Yuvraj, Powar in Test squad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Yuvraj, Powar in Test squad

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. Back-to-back centuries in the Duleep Trophy championship recently clinched for Yuvraj Singh a place in the Indian Test squad for the coming three-match Test cricket series against Pakistan.

It will be the second chance for Yuvraj to prove his worth in the longer version of the game, after his debut against New Zealand at Mohali — scoring 20 and 5 runs in the only Test he has played so far.

The flamboyant left-hander was not considered for the tough tour of Australia, but his good showing in the domestic circuit, mainly in the final stages of the Duleep Trophy, helped him get the selectors' nod.

Also getting the look in was Mumbai off-spinner Ramesh Powar, who besides being a handy bowler, has decent batting statistics in his first-class career. Laxmipathy Balaji, with just one wicket from two Tests he played against New Zealand, finds a place for himself as India decided to have four pace bowlers.

These were the only new members of the 15-member Test team announced by the Cricket Board (BCCI) secretary, S.K. Nair, here on Monday. The team was selected after the senior Selection Committee met here this morning and deliberated for over two hours in a teleconference with the captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright, who are in Lahore.

In fact, all the new Test faces are already with the team playing the ongoing One-day series. Only Anil Kumble and Ajit Agarkar need to join the team before the first Test scheduled in Multan. Both have been declared fit by the BCCI doctor Anant Joshi.

There will be just one specialist wicket-keeper, Parthiv Patel, Mr. Nair said and added that there was no need for a second 'keeper. "Pakistan is very close by, if and when need arises any player could be flown out,'' Mr. Nair added.

Zaheer Khan, who missed two Tests against Australia after injuring himself in the first Test at Melbourne, is back as is Mumbai paceman Ajit Agarkar, after having submitted his fitness certificate last week.

To a query about Harbhajan Singh, Mr. Nair said that the off-spinner would need at least one-and-a-half months more to regain his full fitness. "Though Powar got the final nod the selectors did discuss the names of Sarandeep Singh, Kulamani Parida and Sairaj Bahutule, he said.

The team: Sourav Ganguly (Capt.), Aakash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, L. Balaji, Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan and Romesh Powar.

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