NEWS
Follow UsIndia fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is set to be ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a back injury, a senior BCCI official told PTI. It is understood that the injury would take time to heal and the fast bowler would not be able to recover in time for the tournament, starting on August 27.
The Indian team for the multi-team tournament is expected to be announced today (August 8) but it is unclear if an official announcement will be made just yet.
"Jasprit Bumrah has a back injury and will not play in the Asia Cup. He is our main bowler and we would like him to be back in action before T20 World Cup. We can't risk him in Asia Cup and the injury could aggravate," a senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Bumrah, who is currently holidaying in the US will now have to do his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and will be assessed ahead of the white-ball home series against Australia and South Africa, ahead of the T20 World Cup.
After the ODIs against England, the speedster was rested for the limited-overs tour of the West Indies and also the ODI series against Zimbabwe. Bumrah's injury is a setback for the Indian team as he would need some matches to get into the groove after a long lay-off which will be more than two months.
Bumrah will become India's second fast bowler to be ruled out of the Asia Cup after Harshal Patel. Harshal sustained a side strain that could keep him out of contention for a place in the T20 World Cup as well.
While he is an automatic choice as and when he makes a comeback, the same can't be said about someone like Avesh Khan, who, if given a chance in the Asia Cup, would like to prove his worth to remain in the mix.
The white-ball home series gets underway on September 20 with a T20I series against Australia and will conclude with three ODIs against South Africa on October 11.
Then, India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2022 will kick-start against Pakistan on October 23 at the MCG.
(With inputs from PTI)
