Tendulkar, RP, Chawla, Uthappa, Agarkar, Powar under viral attack; Agarkar, Dhoni still not fit India face a manpower problem as they come up against South Africa in the first of the three-ODI Future Cup series matches here tomorrow.
After Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulled out of India’s opening game due to high fever, it seems now that Sachin Tendulkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla, Robin Uthappa, Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar are also under the weather. Probably the sudden change in the climate has hit the players, and they are suffering from cold and viral fever. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India is taking no chances.
In a press release issued today, Board secretary Niranjan Shah said that since “five to six players of the Indian Team are suffering from a bout of viral fever”, — “and Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth and Dhoni are still to recover fully” — management has taken immediate damage control measures.
“As a precautionary measure,” says Shah, “the team management, after consulting the Board, has requested Rakesh Patel of Baroda, who is currently playing league in England, to reach Ireland tomorrow.
“The Board is also making arrangements for Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose to join the team in Ireland within next two days,” the communique quoted Shah as saying. While Patel can be at the venue by tomorrow, Bose and Sharma are likely to miss the first ODI. Captain Rahul Dravid was also not feeling too well, as was the case with Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan.
“Quite a few boys in our team are suffering from viral fever and flu, and symptoms of that kind. Sreesanth, Agarkar, Dhoni, RP Singh and Ramesh Powar have not come to practice today,” Dravid said. “There are other guys like Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer, myself and Robin Singh (fielding coach) who are feeling a bit down.”
“But if we can get 11 guys on the park, we believe anyone is capable of playing good cricket. Irrespective of the situation, South Africa was obviously going to be a tough game,” Dravid said.
What may be of minor help to India are deficits in the South African squad. They will be without skipper Graeme Smith and all-rounder Shaun Pollock.
Yet, the Jacques Kallis-led side seems to have enough firepower to give the Indians a hard time.
Weather forced the curtailment of the first two matches and another stop-and-start game on Tuesday cannot be ruled out.
The South Africans pride themselves on the strength of their bowling attack that includes Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Charles Langeveldt and Andrew Hall.
Though Smith will be missing from the top of the order, South Africa have enough experience and depth in their batting too, with AB de Villiers, Morne van Wyk, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher shouldering responsibility.
On their part, the Indians have been bolstered by the return of Sourav Ganguly.
The original Team India attack line was pretty much suited to the conditions - S Sreesanth and Agarkar looking good.
RP Singh, too was looking ahead to this. But with the viral shock, now Zaheer Khan remains the spearhead, with additions of greenhorns like Patel and Ishant and Ranadeb Bose.
And then, call for Arjun Yadav too
Belfast: In a late development a worried Indian team management has now asked young cricketer Arjun Yadav, son of former Indian test cricketer Shiv Lal Yadav to also join the Indian team for the first cricket ODI tomorrow.
Middle order bat Yadav plays club cricket in Ireland and hence gets this call-up, like Patel from Liverpool. Pacers Ranadeb Bose and Ishant Sharma are also going, but will miss the first ODI.
PTI
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