September 28 Saturday 2002
Ganguly retained as India's captain for WI series

MUMBAI: India's revamped cricket selection committee retained Sourav Ganguly as captain for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, officials said on Friday.

The left-hander will lead India in three Test matches and seven One-day Internationals against the West Indians in October and November, cricket board Secretary Karunakaran Nair said.

But the new selection panel, headed by former Test batsman Brijesh Patel, resisted giving Ganguly a longer term till the World Cup in South Africa early next year.

One-day batting star Mohammad Kaif was, meanwhile, named captain of the Board President's XI to play the West Indies in the three-day tour opener in Bangalore from October 4.

The home team includes nine players who have played for India in Tests and One-day Internationals in recent years. The first Test will be played here from October 9-13, the second in Chennai from October 17-21 and the third in Kolkata from October 30 to November 3.

Board President's XI: Mohammad Kaif (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sanjay Bangar, Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Amit Mishra, Murali Kartik, Laxmi Balaji, Tinu Yohannan, Ajay Ratra, Sarandeep Singh, Irfan Pathan, Aakash Chopra.