India switch their spin options as Singh and Nehra axed

Harbhajan struggled on the recent tours of West Indies and England and has paid the price with selectors instead preferring Punjab leg-spinner Rahul Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The squad has been weakened through injuries with Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh all sidelined, while Ashish Nehra has been dropped.

The squad for the remaining three games will be named at a later date to give some of those star names the chance to prove their fitness.

Karnataka medium-pacer Sreenath Aravind has also been included in an India squad for the first time while Varun Aaron, who did not play on the recent England tour, was retained.

India’s former bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, who is in charge of Royal Challengers Bangalore, feels Aravind is a good selection.

“There have been fitness issues with Nehra for a while now. He has the experience, but the time has come to look ahead... Aravind fits the slot very well,” said Prasad.

“Aravind has done very well for Karnataka and RCB. He knows how to vary his pace and bowl in Indian conditions.”

The series begins in Hyderabad on October 14 with the second match in New Delhi on October 17. The other matches will be held in Mohali (Oct 20), Mumbai (Oct 23) and Kolkata (Oct 25).

India squad for first two one-day internationals: MS Dhoni (capt), G Gambhir, P Patel, A Rahane, V Kohli, S Raina, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, V Aaron, U Yadav, V Kumar, S Aravind, R Sharma, M Tiwary, P Kumar.

Leicestershire all-rounder Andrew McDonald is leaving the county because of visa problems.

The Australian was named Friends Life T20 cricketer of the year by the Professional Cricketers’ Association after scoring 584 runs and taking 14 wickets and 12 catches as the Foxes became domestic Twenty20 champions.

However, visa problems mean McDonald, 30, will be joining the retiring Paul Nixon and Nottinghamshire-bound Harry Gurney in leaving the East Midlands county.

Leicestershire chief executive Mike Siddall said: “We thank Andrew for the impact he has made over the past two years.

“It’s really sad to have to say goodbye to three guys on the playing staff who have made a fantastic contribution to winning the t20 this year and taking Leicestershire into the Champions League.”

The county have already moved to plug the gap by recruiting experienced South African batsman Martin van Jaarsveld on a two-year deal from Kent, with an option for a third year.