Searching for form,Sachin may figure in Irani Cup

As debates about whether Sachin Tendulkars age has finally caught up with him continue to rage on,the national selectors are planning to include the 39-year-old in the Rest of India

As debates about whether Sachin Tendulkars age has finally caught up with him continue to rage on,the national selectors are planning to include the 39-year-old in the Rest of India (ROI) squad for the upcoming Irani Cup.

With the Indian team set to be away for the World T20 starting mid-September,there is no cricket lined up for Tendulkar. And the Kris Srikkanth-led national selection committee whose term comes to an end this month are said to have a word with the Mumbai veteran before announcing the ROI squad on Monday.

We feel it will be best for him to gain some confidence before he gets ready for England. His experience promises to be crucial for the Indian team over the next 12 months. We are certain that Sachin will be back to his best soon, a selector said on condition of anonymity.

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Tendulkar will be part of the Champions League starting next month in South Africa. But we feel that domestic cricket is the best place to gain form. We will also ask him whether he will be interested to play Challengers, the selector added.

If selected,the Irani Cup encounter which starts on September 21 will be Tendulkars first in the competition since 2003. His last domestic game,meanwhile,came in early 2009 when he was part of the victorious Mumbai team for the semi-final and final of the Ranji Trophy.