Flu, not Akhtar strikes Indian team in Sharjah

But early this morning, the team management learnt to their dismay that more players reported sick, including Amay Khurasia, Ajit Agarkar, Nikhil Chopra, Nayan Mongia and Venkatesh Prasad. That left only nine players fit enough to take the field.

“Although both Mongia and Prasad were also not well, we asked them to playand they readily agreed,” said Indian team manager Anand Mate. “We wanted Kambli to play in this tournament and he was also keen to perform here. But unfortunately, he had to sit out,” Gaekwad added.

Today, Prasad didn’t look fit at all as he began his run-up in the Pakistan innings. And, Ijaz Ahmed took full advantage of his inability to go full stretch by slamming Prasad for three sixes. Mongia, too, was uneasy with Rahul Dravid taking his place behind the stumps for a while.

With the team’s overall strength having already been cut short in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, the last thing they needed was more players falling sick or getting injured.

“Too much of travelling, from place to place in India during the recent series may be one of the reasons. The players had to go through various climatic conditions, from their air-conditioned rooms to 40 degree grounds,” explained Indian team doctor, Ravinder Chaddha. “But these things do happen once in a while. I can’t be helped,” headded.