Sachin set to be Test captain of India

Tendulkar has accepted the BCCI's request to take over the reins of the Test team, a top BCCI source said.

Sachin Tendulkar is all set to become India's Test captain for the upcoming cricket series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.

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Tendulkar has accepted the BCCI's request to take over the reins of the Test team after Rahul Dravid opted out of captaincy on returning from the England tour earlier this year, a top BCCI source said on Saturday.

The national selectors will meet in New Delhi on Saturday to announce the Indian team for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan but will wait till November 8 before making a formal announcement on Tendulkar's appointment as Test captain.

"It is the prerogative of the national selectors to announce the captain. Most probably Tendulkar's appointment would be announced only in Mohali on November 8 when the selectors meet again to choose the team for the remaining ODIs against Pakistan," the source said.

The source also said selectors were pleased with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's performance as the ODI captain but did not want to put him under extra pressure by giving him the captaincy of the Test team for the high-pressure series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.

Tendulkar, who succeeded Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996 after the tour of England, had three stints as India captain during which he led the side in 25 Tests, winning four and losing nine.

Tendulkar gave up the captaincy after the two-Test series against South Africa in 2000.