SINGAPORE, SEPT 5: The surprises in Indian cricket just don't cease. Till yesterday, a 14-member squad chosen by the selectors was to tour Toronto for a one-day series against West Indies beginning next week. Today, there are two changes in the team which also swells in size by one member. Sachin Tendulkar has finally decided to skip the trip to treat his ailing back while Ajay Jadeja, who tore his calf muscle yesterday, pulls out as he requires another 15 days to recover from the injury.With the captain and vice-captain ruled out, the mantle of captaincy falls on Saurav Ganguly, who expressed surprise after he is told about his new status. Surprise is also in store for Rahul Dravid who has been named deputy. But that isn't all. The team strength is increased as the organsisers in Toronto have claimed that the event is being held as per the rules of the World Cup, informs Jaywant Lele, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) while announcing the developments this evening. ``Tendulkarhas sought permission to miss the Toronto tournament as he wants to undergo medical examination of his back. Though he hasn't told us about whom he would be consulting, the Board is willing to foot his expenses,'' explained Lele.Selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar, who is camping here, coach Anshuman Gaekwad, Tendulkar and Jadeja, with a crutch in hand, formed an interim selection committee here to decide upon the replacements as time was too short to reach the other selectors back home, says Lele.Vinod Kambli's inclusion is nothing short of intriguing. The national selectors had earlier discarded him from the squad to Toronto as Wadekar himself said then while giving reasons of the Mumbai batsman's omission, ``he didn't perform well and was unfit.'' Suddenly, there seems to nothing wrong with Kambli. Right? Wrong. If there isn't something wrong with Kambli, something surely will be after the whimsical ways of the selectors who expect players to take rejection and recall in their stride.Theselection of Martin and Bhandari meant changes in the India A team too as both were to play in the forthcoming one-day series against West Indies A in Los Angeles. Knowing the governors of Indian cricket, be assured there will be more of surprises when Mohammad Azharuddin, Nayan Mongia, Ajit Agarkar present their fitness certificates for the four-nation tournament at Nairobi later this month.
