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CALCUTTA, Feb 19: Indian cricket selectors left out experienced pacer Javagal Srinath from a 14-man squad for the Asian Test Championship match against Sri Lanka which could become very crucial if the home team loses to Pakistan on Saturday.

The chairman of selectors, Ajit Wadekar, however, emphasised that Srinath has been rested after he was struggling with a shin injury since the Chennai Test. ``He had been carrying the injury since Chennai.

``If he not been rested for the Colombo match, we might have lost him (Srinath) for the World Cup. His injury is not serious but needs proper rest and medication. The skipping of the match against Sri Lanka will mean a 16 to 17 days rest before the final, of course if India qualifies,'' Wadekar told reporters at the Eden Gardens late Friday evening.

Srinath has been replaced by an uncapped 21-year-old rookie Ashish Nehra from New Delhi. ``There has to be a starting point sometime. The pace attack is weak but we can't help it,'' the chief selector said.

While Mohammad Azharuddin was retained as captain, Anil Kumble was appointed his deputy. But Jayanth Lele, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) stressed that Kumble has not been awarded for his perfect-10 at New Delhi.

``Anil is an experienced campaigner. Besides, he skipper Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. As far as Saurav Ganguly is concerned, he has life ahead of him and I am sure he will get a chance some day,'' Lele said. Ganguly was the other candidate for vice-captain's slot which was vacant after Ajay Jadeja was sacked following a dismal performance in New Zealand.

Wadekar, a former India captain, nevertheless, said the team named was only for the match against Sri Lanka to be played at Colombo between Feb 24 and 28.

Team:

Mohammad Azharuddin (captain), Anil Kumble (vice-captain), Sadagoppan Ramesh, Venkatesai Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Ventakesh Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Sunil Joshi and Ashish Nehra.

Coach: Anshuman Gaekwad.