Karthik likely to be named second wicketkeeper for windies tour

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Dinesh Karthik is likely to get the nod ahead of Parthiv Patel as the second wicketkeeper, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in the team when the selectors pick the squad for the five-match ODI series against West Indies starting May 18 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources today told UNI that the five-member selection committee chaired by Kiran More has more or less decided the 16-member team for the five limited overs games.

''The squad is likely to have seven batsmen and an equal number of bowlers alongwith two wicketkeepers,'' Sources said adding that Karthik mght be favoured over Patel for the second wicketkeeper's spot.

Among the seven bowlers Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar are likely to be automatic choices leaving just one place open for debate in the meeting tomorrow.

With the wickets in West Indies likely to favour the pacers the seventh bowler's choice would be between Rudra Pratap Singh and VRV Singh, though the former, considering his performances this season, has a better chance of making it.

In the batting department captain Rahul Dravid, his deputy Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh are certainties, once again leaving Mohammad Kaif's inclusion at the mercy of the selectors.

He along with Venugopala Rao are the front runners for making it to the squad and their performances in Abu Dhabi would also go a long way towards sealing their places. Kaif's fielding would also weigh on the minds of the selectors while making the choice.

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