Specialists to fly to Windies

Five others from the current Test squad — openers Wasin Jaffer and SS Das, all-rounder Sanjay Bangar, wicketkeeper/opener Deep Dasgupta and Javagal Srinath will take a flight back home after the ongoing series concludes.

Citing a Board policy, Shah refused to explain inclusions and omissions. ‘‘No questions please. I’m not authorised to comment on selection process. I will just read out the team.’’ He, however, was quick to make amends when prompted by mediamen: ‘‘Srinath has been rested not dropped.’’

Chief selector Chandu Borde also gave the media a miss.

Delhi batsman Sehwag, who missed a lot of action due to shoulder injury, will be returning to bolster the National side, so will be ‘labelled’ one-day specialists Yuvraj Singh and Kaif. Tendulkar, who skipped ODI series against Zimbabwe at home and now is going through a lean patch against the West Indians, will face a tough task.

It would be interesting to see if Sehwag opens the innings with Ganguly or Tendulkar. Another significant inclusion was Laxman who also makes a comeback to the ODI side. With Anil Kumble back from the West Indies following a jaw fracture, Indian selectors will be pinning their hopes on Kartik and offie Harbhajan Singh to tame the Caribbean onslaught.

The selectors also persisted with Kerala’s medium pacer Tinu Yohanan who has been overlooked for the Test matches so far.