Sehwag named Indian vice-captain

BOMBAY: Injuries and withdrawals by senior players forced India’s cricket selectors to make five changes to the national squad announced yesterday for this month’s tri-nation limited-overs series in Bangladesh.

Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Rahul Dravid and seam bowler Ashish Nehra all sustained injuries during the World Cup in South Africa, where India lost the final to Australia. Veteran medium-pacer Javagal Srinath and legspinner Anil Kumble withdrew from the Dhaka tournament for personal reasons. The April 11-20 series in Dhaka features South Africa and hosts Bangladesh. The Indian cricket board’s secretary SK Nair told reporters that the selectors decided to use the opportunity to give exposure to five youngsters, who have been rewarded for their consistent performances in domestic cricket and for the India “A” side.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, middle-order batsman Abhijit Kale, medium pacer Avishkar Salvi and spinners Sarandeep Singh and Amit Mishra were all drafted into the squad.  Off-spinner Singh is the only one among them to have played international cricket. “The selectors have picked the best available team. The youngsters have earned the place with their consistent show,” Nair said. “It is an opportunity for them to come good at the international level.” Skipper Sourav Ganguly gets a new deputy in attacking opener Virender Sehwag, who has been named vice-captain.

India squad: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Mongia, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Abhijit Kale, Sanjay Bangar, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Zaheer Khan, Avishkar Salvi and Amit Mishra.