Virender Sehwag set to lead India against Sri Lanka

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BRISBANE: Virender Sehwag is set to lead the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when they take on Sri Lanka in a tri-series match here tomorrow.

Though the team management has not declared it officially, as things stand, Sehwag appears to be the most likely candidate to lead, with Parthiv Patel getting his first game as a wicketkeeper in the side.

Dhoni has been banned for one ODI after his side was fined for a second minor over-rate offence within a year during the tri-series match against Australia here yesterday.

The Indian side was ruled to be two overs short of their target at the end of the match against Australia when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed a 40 per cent fine on Dhoni while each of his players received 20-per-cent fines.

Dhoni was suspended as this was India’s second minor over-rate offence after they were fined for slow over-rate in the 2011 Cricket World Cup final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on April 2.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Billy Bowden, both from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Paul Reiffel.

Dhoni pleaded guilty to the charge and the subsequent penalties were accepted both by Dhoni and India. As such there was no need for a formal hearing.

This is Dhoni’s second suspension in the ongoing Australian tour as he was banned for one match in the Test series for slow-over rate during the third match in Perth.

Virender Sehwag had to stand-in as captain in place of Dhoni in the fourth Test against Australia in Adelaide.