NEW DELHI, 7 August 2007 — Mahendra Singh Dhoni is almost certain to be named India’s captain when the selectors meet today to pick the squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in September.
The hard-hitting batsman and wicketkeeper is the preferred choice of the selectors after regular captain Rahul Dravid and senior pros Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly opted out of the tournament.
Dhoni, 26, is Dravid’s deputy in one-day cricket and is regarded as one of the most exciting batsmen in the game with a penchant for hitting sixes.
Aggressive opener Virender Sehwag, left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who were axed for the ongoing tour of England, are also set to make the 15-man squad.
India, who initially opposed the game’s new format that has proved popular with audiences worldwide, have played just one Twenty20 International so far, against South Africa in Johannesburg last December.
The Indians won that game by a flattering six-wicket margin, chasing down South Africa’s 126-9 with one delivery to spare.
The 12-nation world championships will be played in three South African cities, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, from Sept. 11-24.
India are drawn with Pakistan and Scotland in Group D of the preliminary league, with the top two advancing to the Super Eights round.
The tournament features the nine nations currently playing Test cricket along with Zimbabwe, Kenya and Scotland.
Flintoff Back in England
Limited Over Squads
In London, inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been recalled by England for this month’s one-day series against India and the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa in September. “Freddie is desperate to get back and anyone who saw him playing (for Lancashire) last weekend will know he is very fit,” chairman of selectors David Graveney told reporters yesterday.
“He has a number of matches to play now in domestic cricket and we will monitor him carefully and won’t be cutting any corners to get him back.”
Flintoff has only recently returned for his county team following a three-month absence after undergoing ankle surgery for the third time in his career.
Several Twenty20 specialists were included in the 15-man squad named for the trip to South Africa including Surrey leg-spinner Chris Schofield, Warwickshire batsman Darren Maddy and Leicestershire off-spinner Jeremy Snape.
“Having reviewed the team’s performances in the recent Twenty20 matches against West Indies, the selectors felt it was necessary to include a number of players with greater experience of this format of the game,” said Graveney.
“The World Twenty20 tournament will be new ground for everyone and we feel that combining players with experience of one-day international cricket together with Twenty20 specialists will give us the best possible chance of success.” The 14-man squad for the one-dayers with India shows three changes from the West Indies series.
Flintoff, all-rounder Ravi Bopara and fast bowler Chris Tremlett replace Jonathan Trott, Michael Yardy and Liam Plunkett for the seven-match series which starts in Southampton on Aug. 21.
“We are pleased to welcome Ravi Bopara and Flintoff back and will continue to monitor Andrew’s rehabilitation from his ankle injury closely in the run-up to the tournament against India,” said Graveney.
“India will be tough opponents and the challenge for the team will be to demonstrate greater consistency in performance as we continue to build toward the next World Cup in 2011.”
