In fast forward mode, selectors eject Agarkar, playback Bhajji

Ajit Agarkar was the surprise exclusion while Murali Kartik too missed the bus to Sri Lanka for the forthcoming Asia Cup Cricket Tournament ...

Ajit Agarkar was the surprise exclusion while Murali Kartik too missed the bus to Sri Lanka for the forthcoming Asia Cup Cricket Tournament in the 14-member list announced by Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary SK Nair at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.

Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh returned to the squad after being forced to skip the one-day series in Pakistan in March owing to injury. Ramesh Powar and Hemang Badani, who went to Pakistan, failed to find a place in the national team, but were picked for the Zimbabwe-bound India ‘A’ squad.

Parthiv Patel was retained in the team with Nair explaining the need for a specialist wicketkeeper in case of any injury to Dravid. However, his selection in the final XI will be decided by the team management, Nair said.

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On Agarkar and Kartik’s exclusion from both the teams, Nair said: ‘‘The two have been given many opportunities, and we thought we’ll give other youngsters a chance. Also it’s not right to tax them with India ‘A’ tours as they have enough experience.’’

The decisions were unanimous, Nair said after a meeting that lasted more than three hours. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Indian coach John Wright also attended the meeting.

The Indian team will be fielding a full-strength bowling attack after a long time, with all the top bowlers, making the trip to the six-nation event in Sri Lanka starting on July 16. While Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji had registered impressive performances in Pakistan, the bowling attack will be boosted with Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan returning from injuries.

Nehra apparently edged out Agarkar in what was the only toss-up, to form the four- man pace squad. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the two specialist spinners in the team, are in the team together after a long time, since the Sardar has been out of international cricket for the last six months following a finger injury.

The Team

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Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid (vice-capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, L Balaji.

Bahutule to lead India A

		• Chennai: Mumbai leggie Sairaj Bahutule will lead India A team for the tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya. The team is scheduled to play three four-day matches in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, they will play a tri-nation tournament. The squad: Sairaj Bahutule (c), Hemang Badani (v-c), Aakash chopra, Gautam Gambhir, S Sriram, Rohan Gavaskar, Dinesh Kartik, Amit Bhandari, Munaf Patel, Avishkar Salvi, M S Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, Dhiraj Jadhav, S S Paul, Yogesh Golvalkar. Coach: Sandeep Patil.

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