India board denies Sehwag warning

Sehwag (right) chats to team-mate Suresh Raina

India's cricket board has denied giving opening batsman Virender Sehwag a rap across the knuckles for making public comments about the team.

Earlier this week, Sehwag said he hoped former captain Sourav Ganguly would regain his place in the national squad.

"It's not as sensational as it's being made out to be.

"It was not a warning, just our advice to him. There is no question of taking action against Sehwag," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.

"Sehwag called me seek permission to take his wife on the West Indies tour and I agreed. I also told him not to speak to the media on selection and policy matters."

Ganguly was dropped from the Test and one-day squads earlier this year following a public dispute with national team coach Greg Chappell.

Sehwag hoping for Ganguly return

His continued omission continues to divide opinion among pundits and fans.

Former Test players Chetan Chauhan and Erapalli Prasanna have criticised the BCCI for trying to gag Sehwag.

But ex-captain Gundappa Viswanath said contentious issues should not be discussed in the media.

"These matters have to be settled directly between the players and the board."

The Indian squad set out for the Caribbean on Friday for five one-day internationals and skipper Rahul Dravid said: "It's a good chance to take in the conditions ahead of the World Cup (next year)."

India last played West Indies in Sri Lanka in August 2005

The selectors, meanwhile, will name the squad for four Tests which follow next month after the third one-dayer on 23 May.

And there is a chance that star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be available following surgery on his shoulder following his return to the nets.

"The return to batting is a graded process to allow for adaptation to the new loads involved, and his tolerance to all new demands placed on him physically to this point have been satisfactory," said Shah.

"The review process for Sachin is an ongoing one and the decision regarding his availability will be taken soon once (physio John) Gloster, Sachin, the surgeon and other affiliated parties are confident of his recovery."

Tendulkar's experience will boost a squad which contains a number of promising youngsters.

Dravid added: "West Indies are a young side with many new players who are keen to make a mark - just like us. It should be very interesting."

Supporters in India will not be able to watch the tour on free to air TV, however, after the High Court banned national broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, from screening games.

UAE-based Ten Sports hold exclusive TV rights for the series in the Caribbean.