Tendulkar, Harbhajan, Bangar ruled out of first ODI
Staff Reporter - 25 December 2002
India have suffered a serious setback as three prominent
members of the team have been ruled out of the first one-dayer
against New Zealand through injury. When they take the field at
Auckland on Boxing Day, India will be without the services of
batting star Sachin Tendulkar (sprained ankle), offie Harbhajan
Singh (bowling hand) and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar (knee).
Tendulkar complained of pain in his ankle after sending down a
few overs in the nets and and team medical staff confirmed the
master batsman would definitely miss the Auckland match. It is
reported that he picked up the injury when he slipped and fell
while bowling.
"Tendulkar had to undergo ice-treatment. He has not regained
full fitness and will sit out of the first game," said a team official.
Bangar meanwhile picked up a knee injury during catching
practice and Harbhajan has suffered a minor problem with a
long-standing problem with his bowling hand.
Indian team physio Andrew Leipus is most concerned about
Tendulkar, and is worried that bringing him back for the second
one-dayer could cause further damage to the ankle.
"It's quite swollen at the moment but he is able to walk around.
It is a positive sign. At the moment he has just got his foot up in
the bed," said Leipus.
"It's compressed, it's being iced every two hours and that's all
we can do for the next couple of days."
"I will be trying to get him fit before the second game, nothing is
certain at the moment. He sprained the lateral ligament of his
ankle," added Leipus.
"If necessary, we will rest him in the second game as well."
Leipus described Bangar's knee problem as "mild" but one that
still required the all-rounder to rest.
"He went over backwards and dropped the catch and his knee
sort of went underneath him," explained Leipus.
"He sprained a ligament in his left knee at that time - it's only a
mild injury but he needs to rest."
Meanwhile, the team management were playing down the
concern over Harbhajan's hand, manager NR Choudhary
describing it as just "some problem" with a "long-standing" injury.
The injuries to the trio will test India's bench strength. The team
for the first one-day international will be selected from the
following:
India: (from) Sourav Ganguly (captain), Ajit Agarkar, Rahul
Dravid, Mohammad Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman,
Ashish Nehra, Parthiv Patel, Rakesh Patel, Virender Sehwag,
Javagal Srinath, Yuvraj Singh.
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