Sachin Tendulkar is all set to become Test captain of India for the upcoming cricket series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.
Tendulkar has accepted the BCCI's request to take over the reins of the Test team after Rahul Dravid opted out of captaincy on returning from the England tour earlier this year, a top BCCI source said on Saturday.
The national selectors will wait till November 8 before making a formal announcement on Tendulkar's appointment as Test captain. The selectors, who are observing emerging talents in the ongoing Challenger Series, had a very long thought about the Test captaincy, and it seems that they have decided to go for split captaincy.
"It is the prerogative of the national selectors to announce the captain. Most probably Tendulkar's appointment would be announced only in Mohali on November 8 when the selectors meet again to choose the team for the remaining ODIs against Pakistan," the source said.
The source also said selectors were pleased with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's performance as the ODI captain but did not want to put him under extra pressure by giving him the captaincy of the Test team for the high-pressure series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.
The first Test against Pakistan begins at the Ferozshah Kotla in New Delhi on November 22. This will be the first time India go in for split captaincy. Tendulkar has also been outspoken about his intentions to phase himself out of the OneDay arena to concentrate on Test cricket, while Dhoni already has the added responsibility of wicketkeeping, besides being three-and-half years old in international cricket. They said Dhoni, while continuing to be the ODI captain, will be the vice-captain for the Test series.
Tendulkar, who succeeded Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996 after the tour of England, has had a mediocre record as Test captain. He had three stints as India captain during which he led the side in 25 Tests, winning four and losing nine. Tendulkar gave up the captaincy after the two-Test series against South Africa in 2000.
The national selectors will wait till November 8 before making a formal announcement on Tendulkar's appointment as Test captain. The selectors, who are observing emerging talents in the ongoing Challenger Series, had a very long thought about the Test captaincy, and it seems that they have decided to go for split captaincy.
"It is the prerogative of the national selectors to announce the captain. Most probably Tendulkar's appointment would be announced only in Mohali on November 8 when the selectors meet again to choose the team for the remaining ODIs against Pakistan," the source said.
The source also said selectors were pleased with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's performance as the ODI captain but did not want to put him under extra pressure by giving him the captaincy of the Test team for the high-pressure series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.
The first Test against Pakistan begins at the Ferozshah Kotla in New Delhi on November 22. This will be the first time India go in for split captaincy. Tendulkar has also been outspoken about his intentions to phase himself out of the OneDay arena to concentrate on Test cricket, while Dhoni already has the added responsibility of wicketkeeping, besides being three-and-half years old in international cricket. They said Dhoni, while continuing to be the ODI captain, will be the vice-captain for the Test series.
Tendulkar, who succeeded Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996 after the tour of England, has had a mediocre record as Test captain. He had three stints as India captain during which he led the side in 25 Tests, winning four and losing nine. Tendulkar gave up the captaincy after the two-Test series against South Africa in 2000.
