India keen to get back into groove against Pakistanis

India will go into the opening match against Pakistan in the tri-series commencing here tomorrow saddled with injury woes but determined to ...

India will go into the opening match against Pakistan in the tri-series commencing here tomorrow saddled with injury woes but determined to avenge their recent loss to the arch-rivals in the Asia Cup by getting back to their winning ways.

Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra are down with viral fever and have been ruled out of the clash. At best the two bowlers would be available from the next one-day game against Australia ,on August 23.

It leaves India with 13 fit men and, with the likes of young Dinesh Kaarthick and 15th man Rohan Gavaskar being unlikely starters, the selection of the playing XI is a foregone conclusion.

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India have limited bowling options, but nevertheless a good pace combination in Irfan Pathan, Laxmipathy Balaji and Ajit Agrakar besides seasoned spinner Anil Kumble. The size of the short VRA ground, can only accommodate deep mid-on and mid-off and no long-on and long-off as the front boundaries are small and spinners can expect heavy pounding in the match which promises to be a batsman’s show. In this battle of the batsmen, Pakistan do not suffer in comparison. They have the willowers who can explode in shorts bursts to seize the initiative from the opposition.

Young openers Imran Farhan and Yasir Hameed are aggressive; Inzamam-ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana are old pros; Moin Khan and Abdur Razzaq are extremely dangerous; and Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik will add the element of falmboyance. And then there are the bowlers.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

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Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

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