MSD calls for rest ahead of tough S. African tour

Nagpur, Nov. 19: In a fortnight’s time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni will set out to face the most exacting question of his captaincy career. With the bowling department exposed and bench strength looking it is on wafer thin ice, the chances of retaining the top slot in Test cricket looks difficult. The absence of Zaheer Khan has only compounded his misery.

“Zaheer Khan will be missed. Even on the flattest of tracks he comes with a plan and bowls well. In South Africa the wickets are going to have a little more bounce and I am sure the bowlers will be better there. At the moment it’s a long way away. First priority is the match here and some rest. We will plan accordingly later,” said Dhoni here on Friday.

The team management is to seek the BCCI assistance in providing rest to key players before South Africa. The board has to work wisely and grant it as a weakened attack with the extra baggage of injury will be the last thing the team would wish for. “If you look at the schedule, players like myself and Suresh Raina have been playing non-stop cricket since the Sri Lanka tour. So there has not been enough time to switch on and switch off,” Dhoni said.

“We will put in a request to the board but we have to see whether senior players are available or not,” the captain stated at the pre-match press conference.

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