NEW DELHI — India has recalled off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for a one-off Test against Bangladesh next month, on a tour which will also feature three One-Day Internationals. The 34-year-old Harbhajan, who last played in a home Test series against Australia in March 2013, was picked Wednesday in the Virat Kohli-led side despite limited success in first-class cricket this past season. Harbhajan, who has 413 wickets from 101 Tests, finds himself in the team along with regular Test off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. “Bangladesh has quite a few left-handers, so we thought a second off-spinner was needed,” chief selector Sandeep Patil said in Mumbai. “We discussed it with captain Virat Kohli, and a decision was taken after considering other options.” Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque and Soumya Sarkar, all left-handers, plundered runs during a recent home series against Pakistan. India frontline pace bowler Mohammad Shami was not available for the tour because of a knee injury, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja missed out. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has retired from Test cricket, will lead the ODI squad. The Test will be at Fatullah from June 10-14, with the ODIs scheduled at Mirpur on June 18, 21 and 24. There are reserve days for the ODIs since the series will be during the monsoon season. Squads: Test: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma. ODI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Stuart Binny and Dhawal Kulkarni. Amir fired up Pakistan's Mohammad Amir admits he almost gave up cricket after being hit with a five-year ban for spot-fixing, but the paceman is now fired up to take wickets and repair his reputation. The left-arm quick, along with new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and then-captain Salman Butt, was banned for delivering pre-arranged no-balls in return for money during the Lord's Test against England in 2010. “I must admit I have been given a new life,” Amir said on the Cricket Australia website Wednesday. “I will try my best to avail this opportunity. I am ready to put in the hard yards to serve Pakistan.” Since the ban was relaxed Amir has been playing in the Patron's Trophy in Pakistan, which is one level below first-class, and has been taking wickets. His manager Syed Noman Nazir told the website teams were trying to lure him to play in Australia's Big Bash League, but Amir's “preference will be to feature in Pakistan's first-class tournament starting this September.” Amir said he is aiming for a gradual return to international cricket, but only after regaining his full rhythm. There have been suggestions he is focusing on a place in the Pakistan Test side for a potential series to be played against India in the UAE in December. “I don't have words to explain how tough last four years were for me. It is not easy when your bread and butter is stopped and you have no other income,” he said. “To be honest, yes, there were a few moments when I had lost hope, when I couldn't see anything coming my way.” Now he is in the groove again, Amir said his immediate task was to improve his fitness and retrieve his reputation. At the time of his ban, Amir was one of the best bowlers in international cricket, having taken 51 wickets in Tests, 25 in ODIs and 23 in Twenty20 matches. — Agencies
