OWN CORRESPONDENT, Bombay | Sunday 11.00pm.
SACHIN Tendulkar is to step down as India’s captain following the team’s disastrous performance under him on their recent tour of Australia.
Tendulkar said on Sunday he would give up the job after the two-test home series against South Africa starting in Bombay on Thursday.
He is staying on until those tests are completed because the selectors do not have enough time to pick a new captain.
India lost all three tests against Australia and won only one limited overs international out of eight in a triangular series with the home country and Pakistan.
”After the team’s performance in Australia, I take the moral responsibility for it and have decided to step down as captain,” Tendulkar said in a statement.
”But in view of the very short time available for the selectors to think of appointing someone else to lead the side, I will continue for the two Test matches to be played against South Africa.”
He said he would be willing to play under any player who was ultimately named captain.
Tendulkar took over from Mohammad Azharuddin after last year’s World Cup in England for his second stint as skipper, having previously led his country from 1996-1998.
Tendulkar’s announcement came as India named a squad of 14 for the first test against South Africa, recalling Azharuddin and wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia.
Azharuddin returns to the national squad for the first time since the 1999 World Cup when the side disappointed Indian fans by failing to qualify for the semi-finals.
Mannava Prasad, who kept wicket during the three-test series in Australia, has been dropped, together with seamer Venkatesh Prasad.
Three uncapped players have been called up — opener Wassim Jaffer, left-arm spinner Murali Karthik and all-rounder Mohammed Kaif, who played a major role in India’s triumph in the under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka recently.
Selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said the team for the second test would be announced on the fourth day of the first test.
Squad: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Wassim Jaffer, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Nikhil Chopra, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Karthik, Javagal Srinath, Thiru Kumaran, Mohammed Kaif. — Reuters
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