Zaheer set to return for Test series against Lanka

Zaheer Khan is set to return to Test cricket, while Ashish Nehra will also fancy a comeback to the longer version after a five-year gap when the national selection panel meets in Mumbai on Tuesday to pick the Indian squad for the three-match home series against Sri Lanka.

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

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

Fellow left-arm pacer Nehra will also hope to make a comeback into the Test squad, having played his last Test match back in 2004 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

With Ishant Sharma struggling for form, Nehra could well find a place in the squad.

The middle order will also be boosted by the return of the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will retain captaincy but he will 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 after an injury lay-off because of a shoulder problem has not been very fruitful, but the Delhi dasher is expected to retain his opening slot.

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

The second and third Tests are at Kanpur (November 24-28) and Mumbai (December 2-6).

After the Test series, there will be a bilateral two-match T20 international series at Nagpur (December 9) and Mohali (December 12), followed by five ODIs at Rajkot (Dec 15), Visakhapatnam (Dec 18), Cuttack (Dec 21), Kolkata (Dec 24) and Delhi (Dec 27).