/ 31 October 2006

India’s Yuvraj ruled out of SA one-dayers

India’s dashing middle-order batsman, Yuvraj Singh, has been ruled out of next month’s one-day series in South Africa, the cricket board said on Tuesday.

Yuvraj suffered a tear in his left knee during a warm-up ahead of Sunday’s Champions Trophy clash against Australia and was rushed to Mumbai to see the board’s medical consultant, Anant Joshi.

Yuvraj will be examined again in two weeks to determine if he will be available for the subsequent three-Test series in South Africa, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah said

”According to the doctor, there is a tear in the interior cruciate ligament, with some amount of bruising of the bone in the left knee and there is also a swelling of the knee,” said Shah.

”The doctor has recommended some exercises and Yuvraj has been advised to use crutches to take the load off the knee.

”At this stage, Yuvraj will be unable to participate in the one-day series in South Africa.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthick, who was put on stand-by on Monday, will take Yuvraj’s place in the 16-man squad, which leaves for South Africa on November 13.

Yuvraj, who turns 25 on December 12, has scored 4 286 runs in 159 one-dayers at an average of 34,84. He has also played 19 Tests with 830 runs at 33,20.

Seamer Ajit Agarkar, who broke his left thumb against the West Indies last week, will undergo a fitness test on November 10 in Mumbai, Shah added.

If Agarkar is declared unfit, he will be replaced by young fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh.

India begin the six-week tour with a practice match against South Africa A in Benoni on November 16.

The five one-dayers will be played in Johannesburg (November 19), Durban (November 22), Cape Town (November 26), Port Elizabeth (November 29) and Centurion (December 3).

A Twenty20 international, India’s first, will be held in Johannesburg on December 1 between the fourth and fifth one-dayer.

The three Tests will be played in Johannesburg (December 15 to 19), Durban (December 26 to 20) and Cape Town (January 2 to 6). — AFP

India’s one-day squad: Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar (Vikram Rajvir Singh on standby), Munaf Patel, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan

Coach: Greg Chappell