Laxman to lead South Zone

VVS Laxman has been appointed captain of the South Zone team for the Duleep Trophy, as the selection committee named a 15-member squad yesterday.

Laxman missed the Challenger Series in Chennai due to a hamstring injury and as a result, wasn't considered for selection for the ongoing Irani Trophy between Uttar Pradesh and Rest of India in Nagpur. However, he stated that he had recovered sufficiently and was looking forward to the Duleep Trophy matches.

The squad includes seven players with international experience, including Anil Kumble and Venugopal Rao, who has been appointed the vice-captain. South Zone play their first game against West Zone in Indore on October 19 and their second against Sri Lanka A starts on November 4.

South Zone - VVS Laxman (capt), Venugopal Rao, Anil Kumble, S Badrinath, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Sreesanth, L Balaji, Pragyan Ojha, Gnaneshwar Rao, Arjun Yadav, Ibrahim Khaleel, Swapnil Asnodkar, Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh
Coach Abdul Azeem