Rookie Ishant gets India call, to replace injured Munaf

Chittagong, May 18 (UNI) Promising Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma will replace injured Munaf Patel who became the third cricketer on tour to return home, after a lower back spasm left him low in the built-up to the first test between India and Bangladesh.

''Munaf is being sent back after he failed to pass a fitness test this morning and John Gloster adviced against him continuing for tour,'' said BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah.

''Munaf Patel has been declared unfit with pain in the lower back. The Team Management has decided to send Munaf back and they have requested a replacement for him,'' added a BCCI release.

It is also learnt that Cricket manager Ravi Shastri has talked to the BCCI top brass about Munaf's non-availability after which came the prompt decision.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Selection Committee, Dilip Vengsarkar in consultation with his colleagues has decided to send young Ishant Sharma to re-inforce the team.

Munaf is the third cricketer after Manoj Tewari and S Sreesanth to go home. Manoj injured his right shoulder during a fielding practice and will undergo operation in Mumbai, while Sreesanth pulled his cuff muscle that did not recover in time for the Tests and had to be sent back.

The 18-year-old Delhi pacer, who has 29 wickets from six first class matches in 2006-07 season, was earlier supposed to go to South Africa after Irfan Pathan was sent back home midway through the series. But that did not materialise as the team management decided to stick with the available 14.

UNI