Tendulkar to play in Perth

Sachin Tendulkar, who missed India's last four matches of the VB tri-series due to an ankle injury, on Sunday said he would return to the squad for the match against Australia in Perth on February 1.

He, however, ruled himself out of the exhibition match against the Prime Minister's XI at Canberra on Wednesday.

"I would not be playing this game (against Prime Minister's XI) but I should be fit for Perth," said Tendulkar.

The batting star's announcement should come as a big relief to the Indian team management, more so to captain Sourav Ganguly who has struggled to keep the bunch going through a difficult campaign in the last week.

Tendulkar has not been seen in action since last Sunday when he made 86 against Australia hobbling on one leg after twisting his right ankle at the start of the innings.

The Little Master has gradually been bringing himself to match fitness and even had an extended nets at Adelaide on Saturday while his team-mates were busy taking on Zimbabwe.

Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh -- the other two on the injured list -- should also be fit for the final leg of the gruelling tour as everyone in the team has a silent prayer on his lips -- not to go back home without the trophy in the kit.

The team was mobbed at its arrival at the Canberra airport and Laxman was the cynosure of all eyes -- a strange sight as superstars like Ganguly, Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid walked past without any hold up from a wildly cheering bunch of largely Indian fans.

Laxman obliged with an impromptu press conference which was also welcomed by the assembled media men since Australians have now declared they would not be speaking to the press at airports.

The senseless killing of former Test cricketer David Hookes has upset Australian players and are demanding extra security from Cricket Australia.

Players have expressed concerns over their vulnerability to violent attacks walking to and from nets in the practice sessions. They have also demanded extra protection when they walk to the team bus in the night after the completion of a day-night one-day international.

It is learnt that players, team management and Cricket Australia recently met following which it was decided that players will no longer speak to the media at airports.