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Sehwag under scanner, Pujara set for ODI call-up

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Press Trust of India New Delhi

The senior selection committee, headed by Sandeep Patil, will meet here tomorrow to choose the team for the five-match series, starting in Rajkot on January 11.

According to sources, there is a high possibility that one among Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir would be getting the boot while Mahendra Singh Dhoni's good show with the bat against Pakistan will put the captaincy speculation to rest for the time being.

The axe is also likely to fall on the over-rated Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who have failed to live upto expectation despite getting innumerable chances in the 50-over format.

Pujara's entry is almost certain after his splendid double century against MP at Rajkot where he reached 200 from 150 in only 17 deliveries. That he has scored 90 per cent of his runs on the featherbed, where the first match will be played, only adds to Pujara's prospects.

 

As far as the openers are concerned, Sehwag has managed a meagre 238 runs at a dismal average of 23.80 in his last ten ODI appearances. His partner, Gambhir has done a shade better, hitting two centuries and two half centuries for 388 runs at an average of 38.80 in his last 10 matches.

But it is their prolonged failure to provide a good start that has hurt the team the most.

The selectors will be meeting at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground after the third and final ODI against Pakistan and some of the players may still retain their position by putting up a good performance. More

  

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First Published: Aug 12 2010 | 6:51 PM IST

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