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Gagandeep Singh in Indian squad for Bangladesh

Gagandeep Singh, a 23-year seamer from Punjab, has been picked in India's 15-man squad for the two-Test series in Bangladesh

Cricinfo staff
01-Dec-2004
The Indian selectors have decided to go in with a full-strength squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh later this month. There was speculation that some players from the A team would get a look-in, but the 15-man squad included only one newcomer - Gagandeep Singh, a 23-year-old seamer from Punjab. Shib Sankar Paul, who was in the Indian squad for the Mumbai Test against Australia last month, was also included. Ajit Agarkar was left out, while Ashish Nehra wasn't picked because of a side strain.
Gagandeep made his first-class debut in 1999-2000, and has an impressive domestic record - 154 wickets in 34 matches at the superb average of 19.72. However, with Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan in the line-up, it is unlikely that Gagandeep will win a place in the Tests in Bangladesh.
The first Test will be played at Dhaka from December 9, while Chittagong will play host to the second match, from December 16. The Tests will be followed by three one-day internationals. SK Nair, the secretary of the Indian board, added that the Indian squad for the one-dayers would be announced on Thursday.
Indian squad for Bangladesh Tests
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Murali Kartik, Shib Sankar Paul, Gangandeep Singh.