Zaheer rested from Twenty20 due to bruised heel

Zaheer Khan has been left out of the Twenty20 World Championship because of a bruised heel, Dilip Vengsarkar, India's chairman of selectors, has confirmed. He also said Sreesanth's axing for the one-day series in England had nothing to do with his attitude and hoped it would act as a spur for the Oval Test.

Zaheer has been included for the seven-match ODI series following the Oval Test but left out of the Twenty20 tournament in South Africa. "Zaheer Khan has a bruised heel. He will require rest and he's got three weeks," Vengsarkar said. "He's asked us to give him rest."

He also justified Munaf Patel's call-up at Sreesanth's expense. "Munaf is in form. I think he's bowling well. He is playing in the KSCA tournament at the moment and he is fit. He will be useful here. Sreesanth has not been dropped because of attitude. He is out of the squad for the one-dayers but will be there for the Twenty20. It should spur him on and he should do much better. He should play in the [Oval] Test match.

"I spoke to Chandrakant Pandit [the India A coach] and he told me Irfan is bowling well in Kenya," he said when asked about Irfan Pathan. "He can bat at No.7 and bowl. He is also a good fielder."

Was the appointment of Mahendra Singh Dhoni always on the cards? "At the moment we think Dhoni is the best choice. He is captaincy material, is a good thinker and is also in form."