MUMBAI: India on Wednesday picked Yuvraj Singh, who is recovering from cancer, in a 30-man preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 to be played in Sri Lanka in September.
The 30-year-old, regarded as one of the most flamboyant batsmen in world cricket, completed chemotherapy in the United States in April after being diagnosed with a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs early last year.
Yuvraj, who has not played competitive cricket since the two home Tests against the West Indies in November, only recently began light training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
It is not certain that Yuvraj will be selected in the final 15-man squad that must be finalised by mid-August for the September 18-October 7 tournament.
The left-hander will need to play club cricket in the intervening period if he is to remain a serious contender for the tournament.
Yuvraj, speaking in an International Cricket Council television show last month, declined to give a time frame on being match-fit.
“I’ve done six or seven sessions of very light training and very light yoga,” he said. “I’m just getting back into the groove of being a normal person.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been out of favour since the England tour last year, was also named in the preliminary squad announced by the Indian board in a media release.
Meanwhile, the India team arrived in Sri Lanka for the upcoming series that begins on Saturday.
At a press conference before leaving for Sri Lanka, India captain MS Dhoni spoke of the highly-anticipated ODI series against Pakistan in December.
“As professional cricketers, we are taught not to really get into the emotional side. So, the series has been placed, and we have to get ready for the series.” (AFP)