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India 'A' team to be named today

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA MAY 23. The India `A' squad for the tour of England later this year will be named here on Saturday.

The five National selectors are expected to have an informal discussion with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, before settling down to choose the team.

Keeping in mind the New Zealand's tour of India and the senior team's tour of Australia this winter later this year, it is widely expected that the India `A' squad would contain some of the most promising players with a view to giving them the much needed exposure on foreign soil.

Those who did well during the team's tour of the West Indies, including openers Gautam Gambhir, who later played for the senior side in Dhaka Tri-nation, Connor Williams, Abhijit Kale, Avishkar Salvi, L. Balaji and Amit Mishra are likely to get the nod on this longish English tour.

It is also possible that a few seniors will be inducted to give the much needed experience. Orissa's Shiv Sundar Das' name is making rounds for the skipper's job.

There are many aspiring to don India colours after pretty good showing in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy like Gambhir, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Ambati Rayudu, Wasim Jaffer, S. Sriram and Sairaj Bahutule. Hemang Badani, Murali Kartik among others are also front-runners for a place in the squad.

Two Bengal players — top order batsman Devang Gandhi and off-spinner Sourashish Lahiri — according to sources close to the selection committee, are likely to figure in discussion.

Ganguly wants Srinath for Australian tour

Meanwhile, the Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly expressed his desire to have veteran speedster Javagal Srinath in the Indian squad to tour `Down Under' this winter.

Ganguly, in an interview to a Bengal daily, was quoted as saying that he would request Srinath to make himself available for the tour of Australia. Ganguly thought India should field five bowlers — three pacers and two spinners — to contain the Aussie batsmen from putting up big scores.

Ganguly said that a wicket-keeper who could open the batting would serve the team's interest well. In this case the team could go in with five bowlers.

Ganguly was quoted as saying that Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath got away lightly after his war of words with Ramnaresh Sarwan during the St. John's Test which Australia lost. Ganguly told the paper that different yardstick was being to used to judge different players in such situation.

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