Selectors look far and wide for an offie

With the injured off-spinner Harbhajan Singh out of reckoning for the upcoming Pakistan tour, the selectors are looking far and wide for his replacement. Emphasising the importance of an offie in the line-up, the West Zone selector Kiran More pointed out ‘‘this a variety of bowling which he cannot do without on sub-continent wickets.’’

This search has seen the selectors keep a close watch on the Duleep Trophy matches — currently being played at Dharmasala, Rohtak and Gurgaon simultaneously — where three offies are trying to catch the selectors eyes. Though More was non-commital on the issue he said, ‘‘Three off-spinners, (Kulmani) Parida, (Ramesh) Powar and Sarandeep (Singh) are playing. All of them are experienced and bowling well this season, so let’s wait and watch.’’

More, who will be in Gurgaon where South Zone takes on England A from February 21 to 24, said, ‘‘We are keeping a close watch on the matches but I can’t say anything more than that now.’’

But added, ‘‘Right now just we are taking a stock. Eventually it will be a collective decision of the committee and also what kind of combination the skipper (Saurav Ganguly) wants.’’