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No change in Azhar's fitness, says Lele

"There is still no change in Mohammad Azharuddin's fitness, while there has been no communication from Ajay Jadeja till date," secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jaywant Lele said today.

Speaking over the phone from Baroda, Lele said Azhar is still unable to throw from 30 yards. However, he refused to say whether the deposed India captain will be included in the team for the Nairobi four-nation tournament which will be named tomorrow.

"Whatever has to be told (about Azhar's fitness) will be told to the selection committe and they will decide," Lele said.

The selection committee meets tomorrow in Baroda.

Azharuddin had undergone surgery on his right shoulder for a rotatary cuff tear immediately after the World Cup. Last month he had informed the board not to consider him for selection for the tour to Sri Lanka and subsequent tournaments. Yesterday, he turned out for Hyderabad Eleven in the Moin-ud-Daula tournament in Hyderabad and scored 96 against India Pistons.

Meanwhile, it appears that wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, who had injured his palm during the World Cup, is set to return to the team. The wicketkeeper submitted a fitness certificate to the BCCI, stating that the wound on his hand has healed.

UNI