NEW DELHI, Jan 2: India pace spearhead Zaheer Khan will return home from Australia after injuring his left heel, the cricket board said on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old left-arm paceman, who was withdrawn from the playing eleven on the opening morning of the second cricket Test against Australia in Sydney, will be replaced by V.R.V. Singh.

“Zaheer has been declared unfit because of a left foot heel injury and will not be able to take part in the rest of the series against Australia,” Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah said in a press release.

“He will return to India immediately.”

Singh, who has taken eight wickets from five Tests, will join an already inexperienced bowling attack which was led by 22-year-old R.P. Singh on Wednesday in Zaheer’s absence.

R.P. Singh shared the new ball with rookie teenager Ishant Sharma, playing in only his third Test.—AFP