Bengal speedster Ashok Dinda is all set to be released by the Indian team management so that he can join his state team for the third round Ranji Trophy encounter against Gujarat, starting November 17 at Eden Gardens.
After Ishant Sharma was diagnosed with viral fever, the BCCI had announced Dinda's name as standby.
Dinda was in Chandigarh when he got a call of his selection and travelled to Kolkata and from there dashed to Ahmedabad.
"Ashoke Dinda will be taking 3:45 pm flight from Ahmedabad and will be back in Kolkata by the evening. Since the first Test has already started, the selectors feel that it is better to release Dinda so that he can utilise the time in a serious match situation against Gujarat," a senior BCCI official said.
According to reliable sources in the Board, the selectors want the 14th and 15th member of the squad to leave for Ranji Trophy duties so that they get proper match practice.
"The idea is that we need two extra players who can be substitute fielders. As for the others, it is better that they go and play the Ranji Trophy which will also help them get good match practice," a senior official informed.
It is learnt that Dinda is likely to join Bengal practice on Friday ahead of their match against Gujarat.
Bengal's chairman of the selection committee Deep Dasgupta wants to look at the positive side.
"I would say Dinda should feel good about the fact that his short call-up meant that selectors now feel that he is the number one back-up pacer in the country after Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav and Ishant. Also, it will be a good thing as he would be able to bowl a good 25 overs," the former India player said.
Murali Vijay has also been released for Tamil Nadu's home Ranji game against Maharashtra.
Photograph: Pal Pillai/Getty Images
