Feb. 7: Serious doubts have arisen over seamer Praveen Kumar’s World Cup participation thanks to a continuing problem with his elbow. And for its part, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is keeping everyone concerned in the dark on a possible replacement.
The Uttar Pradesh seamer underwent a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy on Monday before returning home by the evening. If and when Praveen is officially ruled out, S. Sreesanth, who also went through a test at the NCA, is expected to take his place in the squad.
The Indian team are scheduled to have their first World Cup practice session in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon. Praveen returned from South Africa after playing just the T20 match to recuperate ahead of the World Cup.
According to BCCI sources, his recovery has not been on expected lines. The point of concern as a replacement for the selectors is the poor economy rate of Sreesanth which is 6.01 after 51 ODIs. His average is not good either standing at 32.04 for each of the 79 wickets. Ishant Sharma who is the other contender boasts of a slightly better economy rate- 5.74 from 45 games that have also ushered in 63 wickets at 30.90. Ishant was not considered for the either the home series against New Zealand or for the ODIs against South Africa.
PTI adds: Praveen took the fitness test immediately on his return from England, where he had gone last week to consult Dr Andrew Wallace, a London-based surgeon who has treated many Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar, on his injured right elbow.
Though there was no official word yet from the BCCI on Praveen, the development suggests his dream of playing in his maiden World Cup appears to be over.)
The board will now have to approach the World Cup technical committee and apprise them of the injury and get its approval to name a replacement.
Praveen, a genuine swing bowler has been a steady performer for India in recent games and enjoyed a decent economy rate of 5.07. The rule in any ICC event is that once the player who comes in as replacement goes on to play a game then the originally selected member cannot come back into the squad.
So if the team management is confident of Praveen recovering midway through the tournament they could go with 14 members for selection.