NEW DELHI (AP) — India have recalled offspinner Harbhajan Singh for a one-off test against Bangladesh next month, on a tour which will also feature three one-day internationals.
The 34-year-old Harbhajan, who last played in a home test series against Australia in March 2013, was picked on Wednesday in the Virat Kohli-led side despite limited success in first-class cricket this past season.
Harbhajan, who has 413 wickets from 101 tests, finds himself in the team along with regular test offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Bangladesh has quite a few left-handers, so we thought a second offspinner was needed,” chief selector Sandeep Patil said in Mumbai. “We discussed it with captain Virat Kohli, and a decision was taken after considering other options.”
Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque and Soumya Sarkar, all left-handers, plundered runs during a recent home series against Pakistan.
India frontline pace bowler Mohammad Shami was not available for the tour because of a knee injury, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja missed out.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has retired from test cricket, will lead the ODI squad.
The test will be at Fatullah from June 10-14, with the ODIs scheduled at Mirpur on June 18, 21 and 24.
There are reserve days for the ODIs since the series will be during the monsoon season
