Unfit list grows: Zaheer, Badani out

After VVS Laxman, two more players ruled out for SA tour while Ashish Nehra is still doubtful

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18: A day after middle order batsman VVS Laxman was declared unfit for the triangular one-day series in South Africa, two more players were today ruled out due to injuries while one was doubtful.

Cricket board sources said Laxman’s replacement Hemang Badani and fast bowler Zaheer Khan too had been declared unfit for the series. Delhi speedster Ashish Nehra has also not recovered from his groin injury and a final decision on him would be taken after the fitness Test in Mumbai on Saturday. Badani, who was included in the squad only yesterday after Laxman’s withdrawal, had injured his back while fielding in the Moin-ud Dowla Cup final on Sunday.

Though Badani had expressed his delight at being included in the squad yesterday, a scan this morning showed that he had sustained a stress fracture in his back. Zaheer had not recovered completely from a shin injury and sports medicine expert Dr Anant Joshi had informed BCCI president AC Muthiah that the medium-pacer would be unable to make it to the team. Baroda opener Jacob Martin has been named the replacement for Badani while Harvinder Singh was included in place of Zaheer Khan, the sources said, adding that selection committee chairman Chandu Borde had approved the changes.

Zaheer was expected to be fully fit ahead of the Test series, though. The medium-pacer from Baroda was unable to withstand the ‘heel in-step pressure’ after bowling and Joshi had advised him rest for another two weeks. "This leaves Zaheer with about 40 more days to recover," the sources said.

Nehra was not able to give his 100 per cent while bowling. Joshi and former Australian great Dennis Lillee watched the Delhi speedster bowl last evening and this morning at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. "Though Nehra insists that he does not experience any pain in his groin, Joshi and Lillee felt he was not able to give his cent per cent at the nets yesterday and today," they said.

The selectors have been asked to look for a replacement for Nehra in case the bowler fails the fitness test on Saturday. Sources said Debasish Mohanty was a front-runner as Joshi was of the opinion that Mumbai’s Ajit Agarkar was also not fully fit. Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Harvinder Singh, leg-spinner Anil Kumble and all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi have been cleared by Joshi.

Tendulkar takes a break

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar has taken a short break from rigorous excercices after marked improvement in his injured right toe. Tendulkar, who has been doing lot of running, bowling and batting at the nets the past one week at the MIG club, today took a short break, cricket board sources here said. The break could be for a day or two, the sources said. Tendulkar, who has been excercising since a week has beenfeeling comfortable and there is no pain in the toe even when he runs hard and throws the ball from the boundary line, the sources added. (PTI)