India’s frontline batsman Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 due to a shoulder injury, the Indian cricket board said on Tuesday.
”Sehwag will return to India after consulting medical experts in England,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
”The BCCI will be sending a replacement in accordance with the International Cricket Council’s guidelines on the same.”
Batsman-wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik will replace Sehwag in the 15-man squad, the BCCI said in a separate statement.
Karthik is expected to arrive in London ahead of India’s first Super Eights match against the West Indies at Lord’s on Friday.
Sehwag who injured his right shoulder during the Indian Premier League in South Africa, has not played competitive cricket since the team arrived in England 12 days ago.
The Indian vice-captain missed both practice matches and also the opening Twenty20 Worlds match against Bangladesh which India won by 25 runs.
Sehwag, regarded one of the most destructive batsmen in the modern game, has so far played 12 Twenty20 internationals and scored 223 runs at a strike-rate of 144,80.
The Indian team, preparing for Wednesday’s last league match against Ireland at Trent Bridge here, were disappointed at the news of Sehwag’s return (to India).
”Viru is one of our main batsmen, so not having him around is a blow,” said coach Gary Kirsten. ”We need to work around his absence.” — AFP
