Harbhajan, Kartik set for recall to Test squad

MUMBAI: Spin bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik are set to regain their Test spots after a considerable gap when the national selectors pick the Indian squad for the first two ties of the best-of-three rubber against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Also set to be named in the squad, to be captained by veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble, are stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman and Test openers Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Kaarthick.

It remains to be seen whether Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan too get a recall to the longest form of the game.

Sehwag was ignored following his dismal show in the three-Test rubber against South Africa in which he aggregated just 53 runs in six innings.

Harbhajan, the 57-Test-old off-spinner with 238 wickets in his bag, last played in a Test eleven in April-May 2006.

The 26-year-old Punjab bowler was not in the team for the tours of Bangladesh and England earlier this year after failing to make it to the playing eleven against South Africa though he was part of the squad.

He has already recaptured his one-day slot and has shown very impressive form in the 50-over format at home in the last two series.

Kartik's absence from the Test rankings has been even longer. The left arm spinner, who has played only eight Tests since his debut in 1999-2000, last figured in the final 11 against South Africa at Kanpur in 2004-05.