Squads named for the Challenger series (7 October 1998)

7 October 1998

Squads named for the Challenger series

Pallab Bhattacharya

Veteran batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu has been omitted from the three teams - India, India-A and India-B - announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the Challenger Trophy limited-over competition, scheduled for October 15-18, from which the squad for the Dhaka meet will be selected.

Mohammad Azharuddin will lead India. Ajay Jadeja is the captain of India-A and Saurav Ganguly will skipper the India-B side.

Among the young aspirants are opening batsman Sujith Somasunder from Karnataka state and Rohan Gavaskar, son of legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Somasunder struck a splendid century in an important domestic match a few days ago and has been rewarded with a place in the senior team.

BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele said the committee had decided to rest Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble but would play if Azharuddin's team qualify for the final.

Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar is on Ganguly's side.

The competition will be played in Ahmedabad.

The selection for the Dhaka-bound squad will be done by a five-member committee headed by former Test captain Ajit Wadekar.

Assam's Kamala Kalita will be the team manager.

The five-man body was reconstituted recently with the inclusion of former Test players Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra and Shivlal Yadav as its members.

Malhotra is a familiar name in Dhaka's domestic scene as he has played in both the Premier league and Damal Summer tournament respectively.

Source:: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)