Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Kaif recalls for 2nd Test as Sachin injured


Sachin Tendulkar aggravated the groin injury he picked up during the Australia tour on Saturday and will therefore be unavailable to play the second Test at Ahmedabad starting on April 3. Tendulkar’s place will be taken by UP captain Mohammed Kaif, who returns to the Test team for the first time since the West Indies tour in 2006. It is possible that Tendulkar may not be available even for the third Test at Kanpur, but a final decision on that will be taken after the Ahmedabad game. Skipper Anil Kumble also suffers from a right groin strain which forced him to not field on the final day at Chepauk. Kumble’s condition will be assessed by physio Paul Close on April 2 in Ahmedabad. It is learnt that Kumble is also a doubtful starter even as Close told BCCI that he is ‘‘confident of getting Kumble to play the second Test’’, informed board secretary Niranjan Shah. Piyush Chawla is most likely to replace Kumble in the playing XI if the veteran misses out.

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