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09-Nov-2009 10:55:00 GMT
Sri Lanka in India, 2009/10

Zaheer, Nehra Set to Return to Test Squad

Mumbai: Zaheer Khan is set to return to Test cricket while Ashish Nehra would also comeback to the longer version after a five-year hiatus when the national selection panel meets here tomorrow to pick the Indian squad for the three-match home series against Sri Lanka.

Zaheer, who returned to first class cricket recently after undergoing a shoulder surgery, is set to bolster India's pace attack.

The selection panel, led by Krishnamachari Srikkanth, would be keen to have Zaheer's experience and expertise, which could be crucial if India are to stretch their home record of not losing a Test match to Sri Lanka in their previous 14 encounters.

Delhi' left-arm pacer Nehra would also hope to be back in Test cricket, having played the last of his 17 matches back in 2004 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

What brightens Nehra's prospects is the steep decline of gangling pacer Ishant Sharma who was hailed as a true find one season ago but looks a pale shadow of himself now.

The experienced duo of Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman are also set to return to lend solidity to India's middle order that looked vulnerable in the 50-over format.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will retain captaincy again but he would be under the scanner for his leadership qualities following India's poor displays in the Twenty20 World Cup in England, the Champions Trophy in South Africa and the home series against Australia.

Virender Sehwag's return to big-time cricket after his injury lay-off because of a shoulder problem has not been very fruitful but the Delhi dasher is expected to retain his opening slot.

As far as bowlers such as Munaf Patel are concerned, they have done mare harm than good to their cause with their dismal display in the few opportunities they got in the ODI series.

The opening Test of the India-Lanka series commences at Ahmedabad on November 16 and a 16-member visiting team led by Kumar Sangakkara is already in Mumbai to play the three-match rubber.


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