No major surprises in Indian team for Dhaka Test

The Indian team to play the one off Test match against new entrants Bangladesh was announced in Mumbai today. Although there are no real surprises, youngsters Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Shiv Sunder Das have been named in the list of fourteen. Bengal stumper Saba Karim, who has been out of international cricket with a freak injury to his eye, sustained during the Asia Cup in Dhaka in May, also returns to international cricket. Tamil Nadu southpaw Sadagoppan Ramesh, ignored for the One-Dayers, also makes a comeback. Railways left arm spinner Murali Kartik gets a look in after his tremendous success in the Irani Trophy. VVS Laxman, not considered a One-Day cricketer, once again returns to the fold for the longer version of the game.

The usual suspects - Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Joshi - make up the backbone of the team. Srinath who has been in a self imposed exile from international cricket for a while, makes a comeback. Whether he is match fit or not remains to be seen. Venkatesh Prasad and Ajit Agarkar just received a pasting at the hands of Sanath Jayasuriya's Lankans at Sharjah, although this will not play on their minds much when they take on minnows Bangladesh. The conspicuous lack of an offspinner in the side is a cause for small worry as the experienced Anil Kumble is out with injury. This might lead to the strange sight of two left arm spinners, Murali Kartik and Sunil Joshi, bowling in tandem.

Coming to the quick department, Srinath has certainly been the spearhead since the retirement of Kapil Dev in 1994. However, the emergence of Zaheer Khan will make things easier for the 31-year-old Karnataka veteran. The two sharing the new ball will indeed be a cause for celebration. It's been ages since India had a new ball attack worthy of mention. However, the sameness of Joshi and Kartik might tempt the Indians to go into the Test with three seamers. This will give either Ajit Agarkar or Venkatesh Prasad another chance to make a mark in the longer form of the game.

Behind the stumps, Saba Karim has scored over Vijay Dahiya. While one imagined that Dahiya had done just about enough to retain his place in the side, one never doubted Indian skipper Ganguly's allegiances. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jaywant Lele is quoted as having said that the Bengal stumper was included solely on Ganguly's insistence. While this might be refuted by the skipper, one fears that there is more than a shred of truth in Lele's comment.

Laxman can take heart from the fact that Lele has stated that the Hyderabad stylist was chosen as a middle order batsman and not as a makeshift opener. This also paves the way for Orissa opener Das who has shown tremendous poise and promise of late. Yuvraj Singh gave a good account of himself in the few limited overs games he played, although he could not reproduce the form that saw him make 84 of the finest runs against Australia in his first ever stint at the crease.

Lele added that Rahul Dravid is well on the way to recovering from a finger injury and would be fit in time for the start of the Test.

Although the team has no major surprises - as either additions or omissions - one wonders about the balance of the side. A list that includes two left arm spinners and four mediumpacers does not make for happy reading. The middle order has no place for Test cap Mohammed Kaif and one has to feel for the young man.

Lele also said that that the meeting lasted over four hours as the selection committee had to finalise three teams - the Indian Test team, and two domestic teams that will take on Zimbabwe in warm up games.

The 14-member Indian squad: Sourav Ganguly (captain), S Ramesh, SS Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Saba Karim, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi and Murali Kartik.