Tendulkar doubtful for final Test
Saturday, 8 December 2007
BANGALORE, Dec 7 (BBC): India's Sachin Tendulkar is a doubt for the final Test against Pakistan, which starts in Bangalore Saturday, because of a knee injury.
Gautam Gambhir is standing by, although captain Anil Kumble said of Tendulkar: "His condition continues to improve."
India, 1-0 up in the series, will miss pace bowlers Zaheer Khan (ankle) and Munaf Patel (back) and keeper Mahendra Dhoni (ankle).
Younus Khan will again lead Pakistan with Shoaib Malik (ankle) ruled out.
Younus led the team to a remarkable draw in Calcutta after Malik twisted his ankle playing football. "A local orthopaedic surgeon has advised another five days of plaster," said media manager Ehsan Malik.
Dhoni suffered his injury during the one-day series - which the hosts won 3-2 - but played both the first two Tests with his ankle strapped.
"We were initially thinking of resting him for this game but due to the new development about Sachin we are not sure about it," said Kumble, who will be leading the country for the first time in his home city.
If Dhoni misses out, middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh would play with opener Dinesh Karthik keeping wicket.
Irfan Pathan was named in the 14-man squad along with the inexperienced Vikram Rajvir Singh and 19-year-old Ishant Sharma.
Left-armer Pathan last played in a Test for India in June 2006, while Singh was part of India's team against Bangladesh in May.
Gautam Gambhir is standing by, although captain Anil Kumble said of Tendulkar: "His condition continues to improve."
India, 1-0 up in the series, will miss pace bowlers Zaheer Khan (ankle) and Munaf Patel (back) and keeper Mahendra Dhoni (ankle).
Younus Khan will again lead Pakistan with Shoaib Malik (ankle) ruled out.
Younus led the team to a remarkable draw in Calcutta after Malik twisted his ankle playing football. "A local orthopaedic surgeon has advised another five days of plaster," said media manager Ehsan Malik.
Dhoni suffered his injury during the one-day series - which the hosts won 3-2 - but played both the first two Tests with his ankle strapped.
"We were initially thinking of resting him for this game but due to the new development about Sachin we are not sure about it," said Kumble, who will be leading the country for the first time in his home city.
If Dhoni misses out, middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh would play with opener Dinesh Karthik keeping wicket.
Irfan Pathan was named in the 14-man squad along with the inexperienced Vikram Rajvir Singh and 19-year-old Ishant Sharma.
Left-armer Pathan last played in a Test for India in June 2006, while Singh was part of India's team against Bangladesh in May.