Pacer Sreesanth was on Tuesday drafted into the Indian team, replacing injured Praveen Kumar, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Indian board announced. The decision was taken just 11 days before India play Bangladesh in the tournament opener on February 19 in Dhaka.
Praveen has an elbow injury and he returned midway from India's recent tour of South Africa as a precautionary measure to recuperate at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
In anticipation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had asked Sreesanth to stand by and reach the NCA. "Praveen Kumar has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an elbow injury. The all- India senior selection committee has picked Sreesanth as Praveen Kumar's replacement. The ICC has confirmed that Praveen can be replaced by Sreesanth," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.
The 28-year-old Kerala pacer, who bowls with passion, was naturally excited. "It is a great opportunity and a great challenge to be part of Indian team for the World Cup. I am lucky to be a part of it and am looking forward to giving my best in the tournament," Sreesanth, who will be playing in his second World Cup, told reporters.
"I am just looking forward to giving my best in the World Cup. I am absolutely fine with any role given to me. Whatever I would be asked to do, I will perform accordingly." Sreesanth's replacement was approved by the ICC's event technical committee headed by David Richardson (ICC). It also includes Ratnakar Shetty (tournament director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Anil Kumble ( host nominee), David Lloyd (independent nomination) and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nomination).
It would have been Praveen's first World Cup. But his right elbow failed to respond in time and with the prospects looking bleak, the selectors had no choice but to quickly find a replacement.
The Uttar Pradesh bowler from Meerut consulted Dr Andrew Wallace, a London- based surgeon who has treated many Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar, but it seems the injury is more serious than anticipated.
Praveen Kumar checks out his elbow as Sachin Tendulkar looks on.It is a huge setback for Praveen, 24, an automatic starter in One- Day Internationals who usually bowls with pace spearhead Zaheer Khan. He has so far taken 57 wickets in 48 ODIs.
Sreesanth, who joins Zaheer, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel - the other pacers in the 15- member squad - has captured 75 wickets in 51 ODIs.
The pacer said he would try to better his economy rate, which he admitted was a concern. "I was worried about that aspect of my game, but in the last couple of years, whatever chances I have got I showed a lot of improvement.
With age and experience you learn a lot. I am still learning and, hopefully, will do a good job," he said.
"There are no issues as far as subcontinent pitches are concerned.
Zaheer, Ashish and Munaf have all played in World Cups before and have enough experience. We are ready to give our best. We are doing well and are number two in ODIs. Hopefully, by the end of the World Cup, we could be the number one team in the world." Sreesanth, who composed a song to cheer the team in the World Cup, said: "I was looking forward to cheer the team, but now I am happy to be a part of it."
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