NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Indian medium pacer Munaf Patel is heading to Sri Lanka to strengthen the team’s depleted bowling attack for the ongoing tri-series, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Thursday.
“Munaf Patel is joining the Indian team in Sri Lanka as an additional member of the squad. He will reach Dambulla tomorrow,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.
India were hampered by injuries before the team departed for Sri Lanka for a three-match test series, which ended 1-1, and the ongoing one-day series that also includes New Zealand.
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan missed the tour because of a shoulder injury while right-arm seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth returned home before the test series began with an injured knee.
Ishant Sharma missed the opening match of the tri-series due to an ankle injury with India going on to lose Tuesday’s encounter against New Zealand by 200 runs.
Abhimanyu Mithun was drafted in to replace Ishant but the medium pacer could only manage four overs before he left ground due to heat stroke.
India are also without lead spin bowler Harbhajan Singh for the tri-series.
Munaf played the last of his 43 one-day matches against Australia at Guwahati last year.
India’s next match in the tri-series is against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Monday.
