Zaheer, Kumble, Jaffer return for ODI series in SAfrica

Mohali, Oct 30 (UNI) The trio of Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Wasim Jaffer staged a comeback, while Sourav Ganguly's poor form in domestic cricket kept him out of the reckoning as India today announced a 16-member team for the five-match ODI series against South Africa starting on November 19.

Injured duo Ajit Agarkar and Yuvraj Singh have been named in the squad but in case they fail to recover in time, VRV Singh and Dinesh Karthik would board the flight to South Africa, chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar announced here today.

RP Singh could not find a place in the squad and Gautam Gambhir did not get the nod despite his success in domestic cricket. VVS Laxman too failed to make the cut.

Zaheer was rewarded for his excellent season with Worcestershire and the left-arm seamer also helped his cause with good showing in the Duleep Trophy.

Sreesanth, who was dropped for the Champions Trophy before he pencilled in as Agarkar's replacement, found a place in the side.

''We have picked these 16 players and this is a balanced side,'' Vengsarkar told mediapersons.

Squad: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice cpatain), Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Mohd Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, MS Dhoni, Ajit Agarkar (VRV Singh), Yuvraj Singh (Dinesh Karthik).

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