da fezbet： The selectors are likely to pick only a 15-member squad on Aug 2 forIndia’s three-Test series against Sri Lanka later next month, keepinga slot vacant for Sachin Tendulkar, whose fitness will be known by Aug10
29-Jul-2001The selectors are likely to pick only a 15-member squad on Aug 2 forIndia’s three-Test series against Sri Lanka later next month, keepinga slot vacant for Sachin Tendulkar, whose fitness will be known by Aug10.According to Indian Cricket Board sources, the five-member nationalselection committee headed by Chandu Borde has suggested picking a 15-member squad for the Test series to be played between August 14 andSept 2.In case, Tendulkar, nursing a hairline fracture to his right toe, wasunavailable even after Aug 10, when he is to go in for a second bonescan, a replacement would be named then, the sources said.The master blaster, who skipped the on-going triangular one-day seriesin Sri Lanka, is said to be feeling better now.However, the committee would discuss Tendulkar’s fitness with sportsmedicine expert Anant Joshi, before meeting in Mumbai to pick theteam, the sources said."If the star batsman is confirmed fit by Aug 2, Tendulkar wouldstraightaway be included for the tour. If not, the 16th slot would bekept vacant at least till Aug 10 and another player will be named incase he is ruled out for the tour," the sources said.According to the sources, three members of the team playing in theongoing tri-series – VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra areunlikely to find a place in the Test team as they are suffering frominjuries.BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar had on Thursday said thatfour to five changes are likely from the team which is playing in theone-day series presently.