India injects new blood into Test side (21 January 1999)

21 January 1999

India injects new blood into Test side

AFP

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 (AFP) - Indian cricket selectors unveiled a new-look squad Thursday to face Pakistan in the first Test in Madras next week.

Opening bat Navjot Sidhu and vice-captain Ajay Jadeja were dropped from the team that lost the recent Test series in New Zealand, while two new caps made it onto the 14-man squad.

All-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla and opening bat Sadagopan Ramesh were the fresh faces contesting a final place in skipper Mohammad Azharuddin's team to kick off the first Test series against a Pakistan side in India for 12 years.

"We thought youngsters should get a chance," said selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar.

"We found Jadeja wanting against swing bowling and youngsters have shown good performaces in the domestic cricket."

Fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, nursing an injury, has also been left out for the first Test.

Mohammad Azharuddin (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Javagal Srinath, Nayan Mongia (wicket-keeper), Harbhajan Singh, Sunil Joshi, Sadagopan Ramesh, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble.

Source :: AFP