Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan return to Team India

After a long lay off from the Indian team, big hitters Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan have managed to figure in the Indian squad to play the Twenty20 international against South Africa. The one-off match will be held in Johannesburg starting March 30.

Fast bowler Ashok Dinda too has found a place in the team. He was picked ahead of Umesh Yadav. MS Dhoni will lead the side while former Vice Captain Virender Sehwag has been left out of the squad. Leg Spinner Rahul Sharma too has made to the squad.

Though the one-off Twenty20 fixture against South Africa has caught Team India players by surprise, some of the regular members of the squad said that they had no prior knowledge of the game and the fact that they would have to rush to South Africa for a couple of days to play just one match.

It certainly would be hectic for the players who would be playing the Asian Cup starting next week in Bangladesh and will have to make a quick dash to South Africa before getting ready for the highly demanding Indian Premier League immediately on return.

The Twenty20 game is scheduled on March 30 which means the Indian team will have to fly to Johannesburg on March 28, less than a week after the Asia Cup final (March 22). Immediately after their return, they would have to get ready for the IPL which begins on April 4.It has been learnt that some of the IPL teams are unhappy with BCCI’s last minute plans but have no choice but to give a go ahead.