India 'A' team leaves for SA sans Mongia, two others

India 'A' team left for South Africa on a month-long tour early on Wednesday without skipper Dinesh Mongia, middle order batsman Mohammed Kaif and left arm spinner Murali Karthik.

The three players, who played in the fifth and final one-dayer against Zimbabwe at Guwahati on Tuesday, would join the team later, said Yashpal Sharma, coach of the India 'A' team before the team's departure.

"I am confident our boys will do well in South Africa as the team is a mixture of experience and youth. In fact, we have some players who have played for the senior team with distinction", he said.

"The most difficult part of the tour would be getting used to the bouncy wickets over there and once they get used to it, it will be half the battle won", Sharma said.

Yashpal Sharma, who had praised wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel of Gujarat and Gautam Gambir of Delhi during the team's five-day camp here recently, said the team is well balanced and the boys are looking forward to an interesting series in South Africa.

Mail Cricket Editor