PTI
 
New Delhi, Oct 29: The decision to leave out former captain Rahul Dravid from the Indian team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan was "unanimous" and was part of a strategy to give a break to the senior players, a selector said on Sunday.

The national selectors had dropped a bombshell by leaving out the 34-year-old Dravid from the squad and recalling opener Virender Sehwag.

But the selector, who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, said that the former captain will be given a chance in the remaining matches of the five-match series.

"Leaving out Dravid was a unanimous decision. We felt he needed a break so that we get a chance to groom the youngsters," he explained.

He said other senior players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly would also be given short breaks during the upcoming series.

"Our idea is that two seniors will play at a time so that the young players can slowly get a chance to be with the team. It will be unfair on the young players if we choose them for a tough away series against Australia.

"This is something we have thought out well and much should not be read into Dravid being left out," he said.

The selector also denied that there were any differences among his colleagues when it came to omitting Dravid.

"When the national selectors meet, we discuss many things, but it is all in the interest of the team. It is not proper to say that there were any differences," he said.

The selectors will meet in Mohali on November 8 to pick the squad for the remaining three ODIs against Pakistan and to also choose the Test captain.

Tendulkar, who succeeded Mohammad Azharuddin as in 1996 after the tour of England and had three stints as India captain, is expected to be named skipper of the Test side.