da betway： The national selection committee is unlikely to take anydrastic decisions when they choose the squad for the five-match one-dayseries against South Africa
da casino： Siddhartha Vaidyanathan29-Oct-2006
Will Zaheer Khan land a place in the team? © Getty Images
Despite India exiting the Champions Trophy after a thumping loss toAustralia, the national selection committee is unlikely to take anydrastic decisions when it chooses the squad for the five-match one-dayseries against South Africa, starting on November 19.Injuries to Yuvraj Singh and Ajit Agarkar have meant that both are all butruled out of selection. The exact nature of both injuries is yet to beofficially revealed and, barring a last-minute report clearing them ofit, it’s unlikely that they’ll make the cut.India are likely to go in with seven batsmen, five fast bowlers to aid them onthe seamer-friendly tracks in South Africa and two spinners. That’s assuming, ofcourse, that they choose a 15-member squad. If it’s 16, theymight just want to take along a back-up wicketkeeper with Dinesh Karthikstanding a good chance to fill the slot.With the World Cup barely six months away, the selectors wouldn’t be tookeen on blooding newcomers at this stage, though names such as TamilNadu’s Subramaniam Badrinath and Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma – both middle-orderbatsmen – are likely to crop up as replacements for Yuvraj.However, with Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Mongia and Suresh Raina in the currentsquad as back-up, it seems far-fetched for them to go in with a new face.Raina’s form, though, remains a concern. He averaged just 15.44 in the last tengames including the Australia clash and his spot will no doubt come up fordiscussion.There’s a certain VVS Laxman waiting in the wings – nowhere close to Raina in the field but light years ahead on matchwinning ability – and he could well prove an asset on the sort of lively pitches expected in South Africa. His record in Australia speaks for itself (of the 16 ODIs there he’s managed three hundreds at an average of 35) but whether he’s part of the team plans remains the question.The bowling is likely to be reinforced with two additional seamers – VRVSingh, who was adjudged Man of the Series in the Challenger Trophy, andZaheer Khan, who followed up his impressive season with Worcestershire, with a good showing in the recent Duleep Trophy game against SouthZone. After having been picked for this tournament ahead ofSreesanth, RP Singh got just one game – where he was pasted by the WestIndies batsmen – and it remains to be seen if he gets another chance.The spin department is the curious one. Harbhajan Singh picks himself butone wonders whether the selectors will persist with Ramesh Powar, whowasn’t too effective on West Indian pitches and missed two of the threegames in the Champions Trophy. The Anil Kumble option remains open yetagain, now that he’s recovered from his tendonitis and picked upeight wickets in the Duleep Trophy opener against West Zone. His name has beenassociated with selection for the World Cup and one would think it wouldbe the right time to bring him back into one-day mode. But, as always, inthese matters the five wise ones know best.
