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Sachin out of Champions Trophy London, September 4 Tendulkar, the world's leading run-gatherer in one-day internationals, had missed the tri-series in Holland and the ongoing NatWest Challenge series because of left tennis elbow. Now it is known he would be altogether missed for the Champions Trophy. Team manager Gautam Dasgupta said team physio Andrew Leipus had informed him that Tendulkar had not recovered fully so he would need at least two weeks to get back to active cricket. Hope had been generated on Tendulkar as he had made himself available at the nets in England and has bowled enthusiastically. But whenever he has tried to practice with the bat, the weight has brought back searing pain in his left hand from the wrist upwards. The team management has sought a replacement but not put any name forward — they have left it to the selectors to decide on the matter. The name though must be decided soon for the ICC to act in time to agree to it. According to manager Goutam Dasgupta, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has informed the ICC about the impending replacement which would be sought. Tendulkar is expected to leave for home on September 6 or 7. Dinesh Mongia, currently playing county cricket for Lancashire, is the name doing the rounds but team management asserts it has not forwarded any name to the board.In view of the present mess, the logical question asked by the experts is whether the issue of Tendulkar could had been handled at an earlier stage for the team to be prepared to meet the eventuality. Two things worked against the move — one Tendulkar was being constantly monitored by Leipus and views were being sought from a cross-section of doctors available in Holland and now in England. Another reason was that the team already had an additional player in Rohan Gavaskar and it would not have appeared proper to seek another replacement. The only silver lining is the hope the team management exudes on the possibility of Tendulkar being available for the Test series at home against Australia and South Africa from October onwards. There is still a month before the first ball of the first Test against Australia is bowled at home and the team management feels it is enough to get Tendulkar back at the crease. There is a view that Tendulkar has been kept away from the Champions Trophy because he had hardly lifted his bat in the last month or so and it would be unfair to try him out in the middle. The team has taken recourse to the safe method of keeping him ready for the home Tests rather than risk him in Champions Trophy. With Tendulkar's injury, the balance of the side appears lop-sided with seven batsmen, six bowlers and a wicket-keeper making up the 14-member squad. There is no alternative plan to fall back upon and in case somebody gets injured, like Tendulkar has, then there is nobody on the bench.
— PTI  |
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