The Indian squad for the five-match ODI series against England, scheduled after the conclusion of the ongoing five-Test rubber, would be picked here on August 7 by the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil. “The selection committee meeting (to pick team for ODIs as well as the lone T20 game) will be held on August 7 at 2pm,” BCCI sources said on Friday.
With three games in the ongoing five-Test series against England over and the rubber tied at 1-1, the national selectors would be meeting to choose the limited overs team just ahead of the fourth match starting at Old Trafford, Manchester, the same day.
With the World Cup scheduled in Australia and New Zealand in February-March, 2015, the squad chosen for the ODI series in England would indicate to a large extent which of the players are in the selectors’ radar for playing in the mega event and defending the crown won by the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team in 2011.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has also scheduled its marketing committee meeting here on August 5 to finalise the conditions for the public tender process to find a new title sponsor for upcoming international and domestic cricket season, according to sources. The Board’s Museum Committee’s meeting is also scheduled here on August 7.
Bhuvi’s swollen ankle causes concern
Southampton: Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swollen ankle will certainly keep the Indian team management worried ahead of their fourth cricket Test against England at the Old Trafford starting August 7.
With Ishant Sharma already out of the fourth Test with ankle injury, India’s most consistent bowler in the series, Bhuvneshwar’s injury will certainly give sleepless nights to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher.
Bhuvneshwar along with Ishant Sharma didn’t take part in the customary football session after India lost the Test on the first session of the fifth day itself.
The UP seamer, who has 15 wickets apart from 228 runs in the series, has so far bowled 124.5 overs (only second to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 142.3 overs) might have been a bit “tired”, according to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
With five more days to go before the start of the fourth Test, Dhoni would be praying that his premier seamer gets fit in time for the important encounter.
Pujara, Kohli drop in ICC Test rankings
Dubai: Cheteshwar Pujara slipped a couple of rungs to 10th but remained the best-placed Indian batsman, while the off-colour Virat Kohli dropped one spot to 15th in the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Friday.
The crushing loss reflected in the ICC rankings as well and the only positive news for the team’s batsmen was the improvement in Ajinkya Rahane’s standing. The middle-order batsman rose nine places to a career-best 26th position.
The bowlers were, however, slightly better off with Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar improving their rankings. Jadeja is now 25th while Kumar is now in 32nd after rising two places.