Sreesanth injured; Munaf recalled
New Delhi, July 12: India go into the first Test against Sri Lanka in a week’s time with a severely depleted pace attack, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth now joining Zaheer Khan on the injured bowlers’ list.
Sreesanth suffered a medial collateral ligament tear in his left knee on Monday and has been declared unfit to take part in the Tests. He will return home on Tuesday, to be replaced by Baroda paceman Munaf Patel.
This is a major setback for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team that just days earlier had asked the board for net bowlers because pace spearhead Zaheer had excused himself from the Tests citing a shoulder injury.
Sreesanth had skipped the team’s first net session of the tour on Sunday along with Harbhajan Singh, complaining of knee discomfort. An MRI later revealed a torn ligament necessitating a call for replacement.
“Sreesanth has been advised rest for 3-4 weeks,” the board said in a statement on Monday.
Sreesanth’s absence will makes India’s quest to avenge their Ajantha Mendis-inflicted 1-2 Test series loss to Sri Lanka two years ago doubly hard.
Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga is making a comeback to the Test scene after two-and-a-half years and will lead the Lankan attack having recovered from a lingering knee injury.
The other members of the Lankan fast-bowling department are Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara and Dammika Prasad. Meanwhile, Indian’s pace attack will comprise of out-of-form Ishant Sharma, who was dropped for the recent one-day series, Patel, who last made an international appearance in November 2009, and a promising but rookie pacer in Abhimanyu Mithun, who is Zaheer’s replacement.
The Indians are scheduled to play a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI from Tuesday, ahead of the first Test against Lanka on July 18 at Galle.
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