The ICC World T20 is almost here, and all the participating teams have jumped headlong into preparations for it. Most of the squads have been announced, and there is a general flurry of activity among those involved with the sport. Last year’s winners however have just found a spoke in their wheel, and it seems like it’s going to be a while before things can be smoothened out again. Team India seems to be stuck back with a few troubles, erupting just before the tournament.
Zaheer Khan has injured his left shoulder quite badly and has had to drop out from the ongoing IPL Mumbai Indians’ match against the Deccan Chargers. Shaun Pollock feels that the injury is not something that can be taken lightly and it will take a while to heal. Meanwhile, Zaheer needs complete rest.
“The scan reports aren’t as bad as we expected it to be. But we’re not in the mood to take chances with him,” Pollock is quoted saying. “He has been bowling well for us and in his absence the others will have to rise to the occasion.
“Zaheer is a class bowler and it will be foolish for us to rush him back. There’s the T20 World Cup also round the corner and from India’s perspective too, we should use him judiciously”.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni too has been maintaining a stoic silence on the team’s progress for the World T20. It so turns out that he too is nursing an injured back. But right now he has only the IPL to worry about. With no back up wicket-keeping backup for the Chennai Super Kings, Dhoni might have to stick through the remainder of the tournament, and that might be tough. But he will try to give his back as much rest as possible ahead of the World Cup.
If that isn’t enough, he suffered a finger injury on Monday. But Team director VB Chandrasekhar asserts that it is not too serious: “There is a slight swelling on the forefinger. But it should subside and Dhoni should recover in time for the match against Kings XI on Thursday in Pretoria.”
But Dhoni and Zaheer are crucial to the World T20 and we hope they are fit enough by then.
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