No World Cup for Ganguly & Laxman but hope for Kumble

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.

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.

More said the selectors were quite happy with the spin duo of Harbhajan and Romesh Powar. However, he added that they are also looking for a left-arm option, in the long run. ‘‘Murali Kartik is injured, so there happens to be a void. We would certainly like a left-armer in the squad,’’ he added. The current options, of course, are Sivaramakrishnan Vidyut and Ravinder Jadeja, who are in the India A team for the EuroAsia Cup starting Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

More added that Sachin Tendulkar, who is recovering after a shoulder operation, was not included on the basis of a report from team physio John Gloster to the BCCI. ‘‘A clear picture on his availability for the Test series will be known later,’’ he said.

India’s Test team for the four-match series starting June 2 will be picked after...