update

Raina out of Asia Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo staff

February 11, 2014

Comments: 386 | Login via | Text size: A | A

	Suresh Raina was dropped for the last two ODIs against New Zealand recently © BCCI Enlarge
Related Links News : Binny raring for more international exposure Players/Officials: Suresh Raina | Cheteshwar Pujara | Ishant Sharma Series/Tournaments: ICC World Twenty20 | Asia Cup Teams: India

Suresh Raina has been left out of India's squad for the Asia Cup, which starts on February 25. The batsman, however, is a part of the team for the World Twenty20, scheduled for March.

Cheteshwar Pujara has been included in the Asia Cup squad, while Ishant Sharma has been left out of both teams.

Ishant and Raina's exclusions are the only two changes to the India ODI squad from the one that played in New Zealand.

Since the series against England in January 2013, when he scored 277 runs with four half-centuries, Raina has had just one fifty-plus score - against Zimbabwe - in 24 innings. He was dropped from the last two ODIs against New Zealand, after scores of 18, 35 and 31 in the first three games.

For Pujara, this is his first ODI call-up since the tour to Zimbabwe when the batsman made his one-day debut. Pujara scored 13 and 0 in the two matches, but since been in good form, scoring Test hundreds against West Indies and South Africa.

In Ishant's case, his exclusion due to recent poor form has continued from the New Zealand series, where the bowler was dropped after the first two ODIs in favour of Varun Aaron. Ishant had a poor series against Australia at home, conceding 189 runs in three matches at an average of 94.50 with two wickets. Against South Africa, Ishant picked up four wickets in two ODIs at an average of 19.50, while he picked up two wickets against New Zealand, giving away 118 runs at 59 and an economy rate of 7.86.

The pace attack in both squads is led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Ishwar Pandey, who was a part of the tour to New Zealand, has been picked for the Asia Cup, while Mohit Sharma has been named in the Twenty20 squad.

Stuart Binny, who made a debut against New Zealand recently, finds a place in the ODI and T20 squads.

India squad for Asia Cup: MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey

India squad for World Twenty20 MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma, Varun Aaron