National selection committee chairman Kiran More on Monday categorically said that it is premature to say whether Sachin Tendulkar would be available or not for the four-Test series against the West Indies.
"It's too early to say anything on Sachin's fitness. It's for team physio John Gloster and Sachin to judge. He's already started light work-outs. His cricketing ability is not in doubt and we will give him the opportunity to test his fitness. But I cannot say more," More told reporters in Mumbai.
The champion batsman is recuperating from a shoulder operation that he underwent in March and is not available for the five-match limited over series in the Caribbean starting on May 18.
"I am constantly being updated about his progress by Gloster, every two days. I hope to get a report by the 20th or 21st of this month before we sit to choose the Test team, in all likelihood on the 22nd before the third one-dayer [at St Kitts on May 23]," the former Test stumper said.
The four-Test series against the West Indies commences on June 2.
"Wasim Jaffer is also making good progress. Ashish Nehra has started bowling, I am told, while Lakshmipathy Balaji is also on the way back to fitness. All in all it's a good sign with Zaheer Khan also playing in England," More said.
The selection panel chief said ideally the selectors are looking towards a pool of 8-9 fast bowlers with a lot of cricket in store for the senior team and is happy that the board has decided to have constant 'A' team tours as well.
More said the BCCI has accepted the selectors' suggestion to factor in more 'A' team series so that when a senior tour is on simultaneously the 'A' squad is also playing some cricket.
"We need to have backups for each fast bowler. The ideal way is to get an 'A' tour on when the India team is playing a series so that whenever a replacement is needed for some reason the available player is match-fit and ready to step in like it was the case with England," More said.
More was referring to rookie opener Alastair Cook and pacer James Anderson, to name a few, stepping in straight from an 'A' team tour to fill in the gap left by the pull out of key players when England visited India recently.
"I was happy to see the way the India 'A' team performed in Abu Dhabi. The youngsters are really coming up. They could have done well in the final. They could not finish off a fine tournament, but overall I am very happy with the way the youngsters performed," More said.
More indicated that a second wicket keeper is expected to be chosen for the Test series in addition to first choice Mahendra Dhoni as: "West Indies is a long way off and hopefully we will have a back-up 'keeper."
More said though the team had performed exceptionally well in one-day cricket, whether chasing the target or setting one, a lot of work remained to be done before the March-April 2007 World Cup in the West Indies to make India a formidable outfit.
"We have performed very well as a one-day team, whether chasing or setting a target, but still a lot of work needs to be done before the World Cup. It's therefore too early to say when the final squad can be identified," he said.
