
CHANDIGARH, May 12: Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Akram Khan is a doubtful starter for the three-nation Coca-Cola Cup lung-opener between India and Bangladesh scheduled to be held on May 14 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in S A S Nagar near here.
Having not fully recovered from the finger injury, Akram8217;s woes continued as he fell on his back in his room in Hotel Mountview today and developed a back pain, which according to the team manager, Gazi Ashraf Hussain, was serious enough to probably rule him out of the first match. This also places the Bangladesh team management in a quandary as to who should lead the side in his absence as no vice-captain was named when the team left Bangladesh for the tourney.
quot;The cricket board will meet and discuss the issue and name the alternative either tonight or tomorrow,quot; Gazi said.
For the rest of the team members, it was business as usual. The side had two practice sessions today 8212; one each in morning and evening.
quot;The wicket main appears to be full ofruns and we will try to put a decent score if we bat first. We can put India under pressure, though, it would be foolish to draw a comparison between players of the calibre of Azhar, Jadeja and Ganguly with ours,quot; Gazi opined.
The Indian team played truant today as only four players 8212; Saurav Ganguly, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, MSK Prasad and Harvinder Singh 8212; besides the team coach Anshuman Gaekwad and physical trainer Andrew Kokinos had arrived till late in the evening. The Indians preferred to stay indoors.
The rest of the team, including skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, were expected late tonight.