Jaffer to lead Mumbai against Karachi for Mohd Nissar Trophy match

Mumbai, Aug 18 (UNI) Test opener Wasim Jaffer has been chosen to lead the Ranji champions Mumbai, in the absence of regular captain Amol Muzumdar, against Pakistan's Qaid-E-Azam Trophy winners Karachi in the annual four-day fixture for the Mohd Nissar Trophy to be held in Karachi from September 8-11.

The 14-member squad, with Pravin Amre as coach, includes experienced former Test left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni.

Muzumdar is unavailable as he is playing in the Durham League in England and had informed the Mumbai Cricket Association of his commitments in May, according to MCA sources.

The squad would miss the services of Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar and Rohit Sharma, who would be busy in the seven-match one-day series in England.

The team has two newcomers - off spinner Vikrant Yelligatti and wicketkeeper Omkar Gurav, who has replaced long-serving gloveman Vinayak Samant.

The team will leave for Karachi on September 5.

The team: Wasim Jaffer (capt), Vinayak Mane, Sahil Kukreja, Hiken Shah, Vinit Indulkar, Abhishek Nair, Omkar Gurav (wk), Avishkar Salvi, Rajesh Verma, Iqbal Abdulla, Vikrant Yelligatti, Prashant Naik, Ajinkya Rahane and Nilesh Kulkarni.

Coach: Pravin Amre UNI