Confused India rethink Tendulkar's opening slot

HARARE, Feb 17 AFP - Beleaguered India are once again planning to drop star batsman Sachin Tendulkar down the order for Wednesday's crunch game against Zimbabwe in a bid to resurrect their World Cup campaign.

Sourav Ganguly's team need a win to stay in contention for a place in the Super Six, and the desperate situation is beginning to create confusion and uncertainty in the ranks.

Tendulkar, one-day cricket's leading batsman who was shuffled up and down the order over the last 12 months to create the ideal balance, once again finds himself facing a change.

Demoted last year as opener, where he has scored all but one of his record 33 one-day centuries, Tendulkar was given back his opening berth for the World Cup and responded with top scores of 52 and 36 in the first two games.

But with the rest of the batting falling apart - India failed to last 50 overs against the Netherlands and were shot out for 125 by Australia - team sources told AFP a reshuffle was once again being considered.

Tendulkar could drop down to number four while Ganguly, who has scored just 75 runs in his last nine innings, could also abandon his opening slot to bat at number five, the sources said.

It appears certain that hard-hitting batsman Virender Sehwag will open the innings, probably with Dinesh Mongia, with Rahul Dravid expected to take the number three slot.

"It's all a bit uncertain at the moment," the sources said. "The think-tank is working hard to find the right combination."

Ganguly, who admitted after Saturday's defeat against Australia that he had no clue how to revive the team, would not comment on the proposed reshuffle.

"What needs to be done in the team's interest will be done," he told reporters.

There is, however, no move yet to play all-rounder Sanjay Bangar in place of Mohammad Kaif, the hero of India's one day final victory over England last year who has a best of 31 in his last 15 innings.

India will name their playing eleven just before the toss on Wednesday, the only change being considered is Ajit Agarkar coming in place of one of the spinners if the wicket at the Harare Sports Club favours seam bowling.

India can ill-afford another poor display against Zimbabwe who beat them at the last World Cup when Henry Olonga took three wickets in the final over to fashion a dramatic three-run victory.

Left-hander Andy Flower alone is enough to give the Indians nightmares.

The 34-year-old loves India's bowlers against whom he averages a phenomenal 94.93 in Test matches and 41.16 in one-day internationals.

When India last played Zimbabwe at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September, Flower hit a superb 145 before Ganguly's team won by 14 runs.

Heath Streak's home team thrashed newcomers Namibia in their first World Cup match before earning four bonus points when England decided to forfeit their game here for security reasons.

Teams:

Zimbabwe (from):

Heath Streak (capt), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.

India (from):

Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Sanjay Bangar, Ajit Agarkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif.