Asia Cup: Sachin rested, Yuvi, Pathan axed
Agencies
New Delhi, 08 June 2010: Cracking the whip on non-performers, national selectors today axed the struggling duo of Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan and rested veteran Sachin Tendulkar from India’s 15-member squad for this month’s Asia Cup cricket tournament in Sri Lanka.
Tendulkar had sought a break to spend time with his children, while Yuvraj and Yusuf’s ouster was on the cards after a series of disappointing performances in recent times as the selectors laid stress on form and fitness.
Flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag, who was laid low with a shoulder injury and missed the Twenty20 World Cup, returned to the squad while wicket-keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik and leg-spinner Amit Mishra were axed.
"Sachin Tendulkar requested the Board not to consider him for the Asia Cup, as he wanted to spend time with his children, in view of the hectic cricket season ahead," BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement after the selection meeting which lasted close to two hours.