Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and vice-captain Rahul Dravid have decided to skip the tri-nation one-day series in Dhaka due to injuries, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said on Monday.
Both Tendulkar and Dravid made written requests to the BCCI asking not to be considered for selection, Board secretary S K Nair announced in Thiruvananthapuram.
With left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra also on the injury list and some other senior players reluctant to tour Dhaka after a non-stop 18-month itinerary, the national selectors will be forced to pick fringe players for the April 11-20 tournament, which also involves hosts Bangladesh and South Africa.
Nair said Tendulkar and Dravid had made themselves unavailable for the series as they are undergoing treatment for injuries.
"Their requests will be placed before the selection committee which is slated to meet in Mumbai on April 2," Nair said.
Nair said Nehra, who is due to undergo an ankle surgery, is certain not to be picked in the squad.
Some other members of the World Cup squad, including pace spearhead Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, are also reportedly keen for rest.
Earlier report:
