India face 'keeper crisis
Fakir Hassen
With wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe out following a back
injury, the touring Indian team faces a crisis before the second Test in the three-Test series against South Africa.
Indian selectors now reportedly have to choose between Nayan
Mongia, who has played in South Africa twice before, and Ajay Ratra, who has only
played first class cricket for Haryana.
India lost the first Test of the series by nine wickets.
Indian team manager M K Bhargava put through a formal request
for Dighe's replacement on Thursday after the team arrived in East London to
prepare for a four-day game against South Africa A. But he said he might have to
wait a day or two to hear who the replacement would be.
Dighe, who joined the Indian squad last week after it lost to
South Africa in a triangular series with Kenya, suffered a back injury during
the first Test in Bloemfontein. He was sent home after local treatment
failed to help him.
India coach John Wright said he was impressed with Deep Dasgupta's
performance as wicketkeeper after he replaced Dighe in the Test,
even though Dasgupta had played a "bit untidily in the one-dayers". But he
agreed with Bhargava that the selectors would have to make the final choice of
replacement.
Meanwhile, there has been no serious public interest in the news
that Indian officials are investigating possible match-fixing in the first
Test, in which India lost nine men in quick succession in their second
innings, after a good performance in their first innings.
Officials and players in South Africa reiterated concerns that doubts were cast over
every cricket victory that appeared unusual.
Indo-Asian News Service
India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage
--Indo-Asian News Service
Mail Cricket Editor
