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The Indian selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar is worried of long term consequences of drought in a new generation of quality spin bowlers in the country to replace Anil Kumble and company once they hang their boots from international cricket.

He feels the production line of outstanding spin bowlers which has sustained the Indian cricket for more than 60 years is in danger of drying up with no long term successor in sight for “irreplaceable” Kumble.

“We are obviously worried that apart from Harbhajan and Powar, we don’t have anybody ready for international cricket. Now nobody knows where talent is,” he said.

Harbhajan Singh has thrown a challenge to West Indies skipper Brian Lara saying he had a plan up his sleeve to unsettle the Trinidadian during their International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy match in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

“Every team and bowler will have some plans to get Lara out. Definitely, I have some plans for him,” Harbhajan said after a practice match on Monday. The off-spinner said: “I am really looking forward to bowl to the Caribbean batsmen, particularly Lara.”

“If I can get him out that will be great. Let’s see what happens,” the 26-year-old bowler, who has picked up 161 wickets from 135 One-day International (ODI) matches, said.

India will bounce back from the 4-1 One-day International (ODI) series defeat in the West Indies in May and win an overdue trophy in next month’s triangular series in Sri Lanka, leading off-spinner Harbhajan Singh forecast.

South Africa are the third team in the August 14-29 tournament.

Harbhajan said that before joining the conditioning camp that began in Bangalore on Tuesday India were fully capable of beating hosts Sri Lanka at home. “They know their conditions and know the total which can help them win. But having beaten them 6-1 in India last year, Sri Lanka obviously know we are a very different side now.”

Former Indian coach Madan Lal has accused the national cricket team of becoming too scared of losing after the first three tests in the current series against the West Indies ended in draws.

India were expected to win their first Test series outside the Sub-continent since 1986 against a team who have beaten only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in their last 10 series. The fourth and final Test starts in Kingston, Jamaica, on Friday.

“We should play more positive cricket,” Lal said on Wednesday. “I believe we are playing a lot of negative cricket.”

Irfan Pathan was not ‘dropped’. He has been ‘rested’.

This was what Indian team manager Ravi Savant told mediapersons when asked about the team selection for the first Test, in which Pathan and off-spinner Harbhajan were not included.

‘Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh have been with the one-day squad as well – they have been rested.’

When asked rested for what, he replied, ‘For the Champions Trophy (to be played in India in Oct-Nov) and the World Cup (to be played next year).’

Ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that the Indian team was all geared up for the forthcoming one-day series against West Indies.The five-match one-day series will be played between May 18 and May 28. Two matches will be held at the ground of Jamaica, two in Trinidad and the remaining one in St. Kitts.

Singh, who met the hearing-impaired children in Ludhiana, said that India was looking forward to a good tour despite the tropical climate.