by PHILIP SPOONER

SACHIN TENDULKAR has decided that India do not need him for the five One-Day Internationals against the West Indies next month and has opted out of the series.

The superstar batsman may still be available for the four Test matches and his availability will be known only after a fitness test on May 10.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the announcement on Monday ahead of the charity series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement sent to the BCCI, Tendulkar said he was still recuperating after the shoulder surgery he underwent last month and would not be fit in time for the five-match series, from May 18 to 28.

The former captain, who turns 33 next week, has made a record 35 centuries among his 10 469 runs in 132 Tests. He is making steady progress, but will be part of the Test squad only if he recovers fully.

The first Test begins on June 2 in Antigua. The Indian team is scheduled to depart for the Caribbean on May 12, and the squad for the tour will be picked in Mumbai tomorrow.

Tendulkar's chances of making the Test team are dependent on his recovery. The main area of concern is whether he can find his full range of shoulder movement, graded increases of the strength, and control of the shoulder. All this will be done by May 10.

The team for the five limited-overs matches has basically been finalised, with the squad in Abu Dhabi forming the framework.

The sensational Mahendra Dhoni will be first choice behind the stumps, and will have the dynamic and Dinesh Karthick as his deputy.

The main bowlers will be Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel, Shanthakumaran Sreeshanth, Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar, while Rudra Pratap Singh and V.R.V. Sing will compete for the seventh bowler spot.

In the batting department, the team, led by Rahul Dravid, will have Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, and Yuvraj Singh. The other batsmen in the frame are seasoned campaigner Mohammad Kaif and Venugopala Rao, who hit a quality half-century against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, yesterday.

* philipspooner@nationnews.com