Ashish Nehra ruled out of first World Cup match: Sources

Bellevision Media Network

Mirpur, 19 February 2011: Injury woes hit Team India ahead of their World Cup 2011 opening match against co-hosts Bangladesh as pacer Ashish Nehra was ruled out of being part of the playing eleven according to sources.

 

As per reports, a sore groin has ruled the Delhi speedster out of the first tie that sets the Indian campaign take on Bangladesh, who had defeated the team back in 2007 World Cup, knocking them out of the first round of the tournament itself.

 

S Sreesanth is now expected to bowl alongside Munaf Patel and Zaheer Khan in the crucial first match. However, India’s Team Manager denied confirming the news, saying that a final call on the pacer’s fitness would be taken Saturday morning, just before the match.

 

Earlier, skipper MS Dhoni had said that Zaheer Khan is fit and should be ready for the opening game. India take on Bangladesh in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in a re-match of their previous World Cup opener which they lost by five wickets and were subsequently ousted from the first round.

 

“Zaheer looks fit as of now, though I haven’t talked to the physio yet,” said Dhoni. “But he is fit at the moment. If there is anything else I will let you know.”

 

Zaheer, who is suffering from a lingering shoulder injury, was not risked for India’s two practice matches against Australia and New Zealand before they leave home for Bangladesh.

 

The Indian pace attack, without Zaheer, managed to take only three wickets between them while going for plenty of runs in the two practice games which India won.

 

The Indian pace battery of Ashish Nehra, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Munaf Patel were allowed to bowl only 24.1 overs between themselves in the two warm-up games to avoid injuries.

 

India has already lost paceman Praveen Kumar to an elbow injury before the World Cup and was replaced by Sreesanth. India also had injury concerns for Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar but they all are expected to play against Bangladesh.

 

- Agencies