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Azhar opts out of Challenger

Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin will not play in the N K P Salve Challenger Series scheduled at Ahmedabad from October 15, BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar said in Mumbai today.

Azharuddin has requested time off for personal reasons and, in his place, stumper Nayan Mongia will lead the India Seniors outfit. The batting vacancy left by Azhar will be filled by Jyoti Vajpayee of Orissa.

Azharuddin, however, will join the national selection committee headed by Mohammad Azharuddin, when they meet on October 18 to pick the 14-member side for the Wills 'Mini World Cup' Championship to be played in Dhaka from October 24. The tournament will feature all nine Test-playing nations, in a one-day tournament on the do or die, knockout, format.

Azharuddin and the Indian team are scheduled to return from Zimbabwe on October 13 -- two days before the Challenger Series begins. None of the players will thus even have time to unpack -- barring Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been sidelined.

Agencies