Champions Trophy
Kumble might get the nod
Pti, Mumbai
Anil Kumble is widely tipped to make it to the 14-member Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy but the selectors are unlikely to cast the net outside the 16 chosen for the ongoing rolling camp when picking the squad for the preceding tri-series in Malaysia.The squads for both the September 12-24 tri-nation event in Kuala Lumpur and the October-November Champions Trophy in India are to be picked here on Sunday. Kumble, although out of selectors' favour for one-dayers for more than a year, is staking a strong claim for inclusion in the team for Champions Trophy due to his fine record on home soil. The veteran leg spinner returned home before the end of the English county season where underwent a stint for Surrey before developing tendonitis in his bowling shoulder. He is expected to recover fully by the time the Champions Trophy unwinds in four Indian centres, according to the assessment report given by team physio John Gloster. Kumble, who has taken 329 wickets from 264 matches at close to 31 runs per wicket, has an impressive record at home -- 123 wickets in 87 ties while conceding just over 28 per wicket. The Bangalore stalwart, who would celebrate his 36th birthday during the course of the Champions Trophy, last played an ODI in South Africa in the Afro-Asian Cup last year while turning out for the Asian continent. His last outing in an ODI for India was also in August, 2005 -- against hosts Sri Lanka in the tri-nation final.
| 
