Absence of senior Indians will disappoint Zimbabwe fans

PUNE (India) The Indian selectors have rested most of the senior cricketers while picking the squad for the May 28-June 9 tri-series in Zimbabwe and the two Twenty20 Internationals in that country after the 50-over tournament. But that may not diminish the interest of Zimbabwean fans, said Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket board. Speaking to this scribe from Harare, he said, I am yet to get the confirmation of the composition of the team, but yes, it is true, the fans will be disappointed. However, they will be happy to watch Indians playing here. It was the responsibility of the Indian cricket board and we cant do anything if they dont send the seniors on this tour, he said. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten, it appears, have had a word with chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth. It seems his colleagues - Yashpal Sharma, Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave, Raja Venkat - too didnt have an issue with giving the top guns a break. It was not known whether the senior Sri Lankan players would also be rested for the tri-nation. Like senior Indians, many Sri Lankan players were also busy playing IPL matches in India and now playing in the West Indies. The policy decision about whether to give rest to seniors after the hectic tours lies with the selectors and our chairman of selectors-Ashantha DMel being in West Indies is likely to discuss issues with the captain Kumar Sangakkara and coach Trevor Bayliss, before the team is chosen next week, Nishantha Ranatunga said from Colombo. Muthiah Muralidharan is likely to be rested due to his groin injury.

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