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Jadeja, Sidhu out of Test squad

In New Delhi, the national selectors announced a 14-member team for the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Bengal's teenage all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Tamil Nadu opener Sadagopan Ramesh are the two new faces in the 14-man side for the first Test against Pakistan to be held in Chennai from January 28.

Vice captain Ajay Jadeja and veteran batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu, who were on the New Zealand tour, did not figure in the squad.

Chairman of the national selectors Ajit Wadekar said many youngsters were discussed, and after a through deliberation on their performance and potential, Shukla and Ramesh were included in the squad.

About the lingering opening problem, he said, ''We decided S Ramesh and the stylish Hyderabad batsman VVS Laxman will be the new opening pair in a bid to find a permanent solution.''

Asked about Debashish Mohanty's non-inclusion in the team, Wadekar said his name was discussed, but Shukla was preferred as he has a string of superlative performances with bat and ball to his credit.

In a bid to encourage youngsters and considering his performance, Shukla figured in the list, he explained.

The four changes from the Test lineup in New Zealand are the removal of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Jadeja, Robin Singh Junior and medium pacer Debashish Mohanty.

Shukla had done very well with bat and ball during the recent Wills Trophy, and found himself in the World Cup probables list on the strength of that showing.

Ramesh may be in the team only as the back up for Laxman who now most certainly will open the innings as has been the wish of azharuddin for the last one year.

With Dravid in crackling form and Ganguly unwilling to open in Tests, Laxman would never fit in the middle order anyway, what with Azhar and Tendulkar strongly entrenched there.

However, whether Laxman and Ramesh can cope against the pace and swing of Akram and Younis will be moot.

Mohanty was never given any opportunity to play in Kiwiland, but Delhi's medium pacer Robin Singh appears to have got the harsh end of the stick, he did look like he had promise in the second Test but has been dumped here.

The side has three recognised spinners in Kumble, Harbajan and Sunil Joshi. Besides, Kanitkar and Shukla are also spinners.

With this Sidhu's 17-year Test career appears to have come to an end. He was woefully short of current Test standard both in fielding and batting during the Kiwi tour.

The team reads: Mohammed Azharuddin (capt), Nayan Mongia (wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, VVS Laxman, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, L R Shukla, S Ramesh, Harbajan Singh.

UNI