Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman will not play for Team India in World Cup 2007. Top BCCI sources told this paper that it’s ‘‘virtually impossible’’ for the former skipper and the Hyderabadi stylist to make it next year.
The door, however, remains open for the other senior who has not figured in the team’s current one-day scheme—Anil Kumble.
‘‘It is virtually impossible for Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman to return but not for Kumble. There is no point in Kumble playing these one-day games (next month’s West Indies tour). If need be, we can always take a call on him next year and he can be recalled,’’ said the source.
Meanwhile, as The Indian Express reported yesterday, Kumble, Ganguly and Laxman were kept out of the team for the five-match one-day series in the West Indies starting May 18—the Abu Dhabi 15 were retained.
Describing today’s selection committee meeting as ‘‘one of the easiest’’ he had attended, its chairman Kiran More said, ‘‘The season has gone according to plan. We have tried about 20 players this season by giving rest to the seniors. The youngsters have done very well and we have back-up in every department. ’’
Asked about Kumble’s one-day future, More said, ‘‘Doors are open for everybody but right now, we want to give the juniors a feel of World Cup venues. As for the seniors, they know the conditions there or anywhere.’’
In effect, India stuck to the combination of seven batsmen, five pacers, two spinners and the one wicket-keeper formula—just skipper Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan Singh have toured the Caribbean before.
... contd.
Epaper
Newsletter
Stocks
Weather
Horoscope
