Selectors to keep a slot for Tendulkar till August 10

The selectors are likely to pick only a 15-member squad on Aug 2 for India's three-Test series against Sri Lanka later next month, keeping a slot vacant for Sachin Tendulkar, whose fitness will be known by Aug 10.

According to Indian Cricket Board sources, the five-member national selection committee headed by Chandu Borde has suggested picking a 15- member squad for the Test series to be played between August 14 and Sept 2.

In case, Tendulkar, nursing a hairline fracture to his right toe, was unavailable even after Aug 10, when he is to go in for a second bone scan, a replacement would be named then, the sources said.

The master blaster, who skipped the on-going triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka, is said to be feeling better now.

However, the committee would discuss Tendulkar's fitness with sports medicine expert Anant Joshi, before meeting in Mumbai to pick the team, the sources said.

"If the star batsman is confirmed fit by Aug 2, Tendulkar would straightaway be included for the tour. If not, the 16th slot would be kept vacant at least till Aug 10 and another player will be named in case he is ruled out for the tour," the sources said.

According to the sources, three members of the team playing in the ongoing tri-series - VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra are unlikely to find a place in the Test team as they are suffering from injuries.

BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar had on Thursday said that four to five changes are likely from the team which is playing in the one-day series presently.