Inzamam and Gayle called up for Super Series

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has been included in the Rest of the World Test squad while Chris Gayle, the West Indian opener, and Rahul Dravid, the Indian vice-captain, have been added to the one-day squad for the Super Series against Australia in October.

Inzamam replaces Sachin Tendulkar, who has not recovered sufficiently from an elbow surgery, in the Test squad while Dravid replaces Tendulkar in the one-day squad. Gayle replaces Herschelle Gibbs, the South Africa opener who pulled out citing an injured knee, in the one-day squad.

"Obviously we are disappointed that Sachin and Herschelle have been forced out with injury but we have been able to call on three world class players to cover this loss," Sunil Gavaskar, the chairman of selectors for the Super Series, was quoted as saying in a media release. "Both Inzamam and Gayle were extremely close to making the original squads so we were delighted to have an opportunity to bring these two great players into the ICC World XI sides for the Johnnie Walker Super Series. To also be able to promote a player of Dravid's quality from just the Test squad to both squads is a tremendous bonus."

The Super Series begins with three ODIs in Melbourne on October 5, 7 and 9 and then moves to Sydney for a six-day Test match from October 14-19.

Graeme Smith (capt), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Inzamam ul Haq, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Steve Harmison, Shoaib Akhtar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori.

Shaun Pollock (capt), Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, Andrew Flintoff, Kumar Sangakkara, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Makhaya Ntini, Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori.