Given the hectic schedule that lies ahead of the World Cup beginning next month, Sachin Tendulkar is likely to take rest in two of the four one-day matches against Sri Lanka, starting February 8.The selection committee has decided to name Tendulkar in their squad of 15 for the first two one-dayers, but the batsman will most likely take a break from the first two matches to give himself some much-needed rest. The team to be announced on Saturday for the first two ODIs is also expected to be the World Cup team, “unless something unexpected takes place,’’ a senior selector said. The team management has allowed Tendulkar to take a break either in the first or the last two matches during the series and Delhi opener Virender Sehwag is expected to take his slot. Sources in the selection committee say that during the break Tendulkar will try and get rid of the niggling back pain that has been troubling him. He is currently playing the Ranji Trophy final for Mumbai against Bengal.“It’s only a precautionary measure to rest him. It will also give him the much needed break because he’s been playing continuously,’’ a senior selector said. Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 76-ball 100 against the West Indies in the last match at Vadodara, was shifted to the middle-order at the start of the series to solidify the dwindling batting line-up. Now Sehwag will bat in the middle order as the team management has decided to continue with the opening combination of Sourav Ganguly and Robin Utthappa. “We need openers who can score briskly and help us get close to 100 runs in the first 10-12 overs,’’ chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said when asked about the prerequisites of batting in that position. Considering that the top two slots are already booked, the selectors have also decided to ignore Gautam Gambhir from their scheme of things. Given the fact that this Indian team already has four openers in Ganguly, Utthappa, Tendulkar and Sehwag, the selectors are intent on adding more strength to the bowling department and the middle-order in their squad of 15. Therefore, Munaf Patel, who has been declared fit for selection, is expected to find his way back in the team at the cost of none other than S Sreesanth. The Kerala bowler was rested in the match against West Indies at Vadodara and the reason given by captain Rahul Dravid was that “Sreesanth is still learning and needs to be given time. He is figuring out what it takes to bowl on dead tracks.’’ In their attempt to solidify the middle-order, the selectors will also retain Uttar Pradesh batsman Suresh Raina and Tamil Nadu’s Dinesh Kaarthick in the team along with Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan who will also be included. “We have four matches to go and a good idea of what the team combination is going to be like. It is just that we intend to play all the touring members in these matches so that it also gives the time to prepare ahead of their tour,’’ the selector said.
