Sehwag picked; seam attack replaced

India named banned batsman Virender Sehwag in a 14-man squad on Wednesday for the first Test against England, in another direct challenge to the authority of the world governing body.

The International Cricket Council had given the Board of Control for Cricket in India until noon on Friday to decide whether Sehwag will play in the final eleven against England at Mohali on Monday.

Sehwag was banned for one match by match referee Mike Denness for dissent in the second Test against South Africa. India refused to accept Denness as the match referee for the third Test, which was then stripped of its official status by the ICC.

Sehwag did not play in the match and the Indian authorities said they consider he has served his ban and would be available to play against England. The ICC disagreed, saying his ban still stood as the match was unofficial.

Selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said the selection was done on merit and there was no pressure from any quarter to pick Sehwag.

The selectors also sprang a surprise by dropping the entire seam attack of Venkatesh Prasad, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar. Javagal Srinath, who was unavailable for selection on account of injury, was no considered.

Tinu Yohannan of Kerala, Sanjay Bangar of Railways and Iqbal Siddiqui of Maharashtra were included in their places.

The team:

Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Connor Williams
S S Das
Virender Sehwag
Deep Dasgupta
Anil Kumble
Harbhajan Singh
Tinnu Yohannan
Iqbal Siddique
Sarandeep Singh
Sanjay Bangar

Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced it will follow instructions from the ICC. Captain Nasser Hussain has said his side will abide by the ECB's directive if India includes Sehwag and the world body strips the game of its Test status.

India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who missed the unofficial game because of back spasms, has been named captain for the series, but will be asked to undergo a fitness test before the Mohali game.

Mail Cricket Editor