Irfan Pathan, VRV Singh recalled to Test squad

India called up three fast bowlers as a cover for injuries to their key new ball bowlers ahead of the third Test against Pakistan starting on Saturday. Seamer Irfan Pathan, young pacemen Vikram Rajvir Singh and Ishant Sharma will join the team in Banglore.

Among the pacers who were in the squad for the drawn second test, Zaheer Khan has sustained a heel injury, S Sreesanth is nursing a shoulder injury and RP Singh is yet to recover from a side strain.

Bangalore Test Squad:
Anil Kumble (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Rajvir Singh, Murali Kartik and Ishant Sharma.

List of Probables for the series Down Under

With a number of key players grappling with injuries, the selectors announced a list of 24 probables for the Australia tour to be led by present captain Anil Kumble. It would later be pruned to a 16-member squad on December 12 after getting a report on the players' fitness. “Injuries suffered by several pace bowlers has compelled us to put off selection of the Indian squad for the upcoming tour of Australia,” said Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian cricket board.

Former Test player Chetan Chauhan has been appointed as Administrative Manager for the Test Series in Australia. MV Sridhar, Vice President of Hyderabad Cricket Association, has been appointed as Assistant Manager who will handle the media duties for the Test series.

India will play four Test matches against Australia, the first of which will begin on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Virender Sehwag was the only surprise omission from the squad. Especially, considering his scintillating 195-run knock in the Melbourne Test during the last tour in 2003-04.

24 probables for Australia tour:

Anil Kumble, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, VRV Singh, Pankaj Singh, Ishant Sharma, Murali Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Aakash Chopra, Gautam Gambhir, Ranadeb Bose, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel