The Hindu : Sport : Sehwag, Munaf recalled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Sehwag, Munaf recalled

Special Correspondent

Virender Sehwag. — File photo: S. Subramanium

Mumbai: Virender Sehwag has been included as a middle order batsman for the first two one-day internationals to be played against Sri Lanka at Kolkata on February 8 and at Rajkot on February 11. The former India vice-captain, Sehwag was not considered for the four-match series against the West Indies.

"Sehwag was out of form and hence we gave him a break after the South African tour. We hope he would perform in the chances given to him. He has been training and practicing in Delhi over the last few weeks. Moreover he can also bowl off-spinners," said Vengsarkar, Chairman of the national selection committee.

Vengsarkar's particular reference to Sehwag's ability to bowl off-spin may rule out Mumbai off-spinner Ramesh Powar for the World Cup. Rahul Dravid had also said in Baroda that Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh could be handy in power play situations.

Same squad likely

After the first two matches against the West Indies at Nagpur and Cuttack, the selectors dropped Joginder Sharma and Rudra Pratap Singh and on Saturday they dropped Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir and Powar from the 15-member squad.

Vengsarkar said that Sreesanth would have to adjust his length for one-day internationals.

As expected seamer Munaf Patel — cleared by the BCCI Medical Advisor Dr. Anant Joshi and the Indian team physio John Gloster — finds a place in the team. The selectors are likely to retain the same team for the World Cup. The World Cup squad would be announced on February 12. Vengsarkar indicated that players might be rested if and when India wins the series against Sri Lanka. Venkatapathy Raju did not attend the selection committee meeting owing to the demise of his father.

Although the chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said that the team announced on Saturday (for the matches at Kolkata and Rajkot) was the closest one could think of assembling for the World Cup, the final composition would largely depend on the performances of Munaf and Irfan in the first match against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport