Azharuddin dropped from team for Independence Cup

While announcing the team at the Eden Gardens here today, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya said that opener Navjot Singh Sidhu had not been considered for selection as he has been advised a 10-day rest by team physiotherapist Ali Irani, after a suffering a muscle tear in West Indies.

Seamer Javagal Srinath, as expected, will miss the first stage of the Independence Cup. The bowler has informed the Board that although his shoulder injury has healed, he would like to consult his doctor in Johannesburg before making himself available. Srinath will leave for South Africa within a week.

The tele-conference was held between four selectors — Shivlal Yadav, MP Pandove, Kishen Rungta, Sambaran Bannerjee — here in Calcutta, chairman of selectors Ramakant Desai in Mumbai and the team management of captain Sachin Tendulkar and manager Madan Lal in transit at New York. The Indian team will reach Bermuda tomorrow for two friendly one-day matches before returning to India on May 12. Desai had to cancel his trip to Calcutta owing to poor health and took part in the conference from his home in Mumbai.

Dalmiya, while pleading that he did not have the authority to speak on matters discussed in the meeting, made it clear that the team had been selected on performance. Evading questions whether there was any dispute over the team selection, the secretary said that decisions had been `unanimous’. However, the selections might not have been so `unanimous’ as the meeting, originally slated for one hour, continued for two hours finally ending at 9.15 pm.

Azharuddin, who had a very miserable time in the West Indies, with his highest being 40 in the last one-dayer, also got on the wrong side of the team management when he decided to not to send his wife back in spite of the Board’s directive that wives should leave the Indian camp before the one-day series. However, Dalmiya maintained performance was the only thing considered in picking the team.

Earlier on Saturday, the selectors decided to retain Tendulkar as the captain for the Independence Cup.

Rajesh Chauhan was not considered for the Cup in spite of having a very good domestic season as his bowling action is yet to be cleared by the International Cricket Conference. India play their first match of the Independence Cup against New Zealand at Bangalore on May 14.

They will meet Sri Lanka at Mumbai on May 17 and Pakistan at Chennai on May 21. If India qualify for the next stage, the team will be selected in Chennai after their third game. Dalmiya, however, did not rule out the possibility of any changes in the declared 14 midway through the Cup.

TEAM Sachin Tendulkar (capt)

Saurav Ganguly

Gagan Khoda

Rahul Dravid

Vinod Kambli

Ajay Jadeja

Robin Singh

Nayan Mongia

Anil Kumble

Sunil Joshi

Noel David

Venkatesh Prasad

Abey Kuruvilla

Dodda Ganesh