MOHALI, Oct 31: India's dashing middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of next month's one-day series in South Africa, the cricket board said on Tuesday. Yuvraj suffered a tear in his left knee during a warm-up ahead of Sunday's Champions Trophy clash against Australia here and was rushed to Mumbai to see the board's medical consultant Anant Joshi.

Yuvraj will be examined again in two weeks to determine if he will be available for the subsequent three-Test series in South Africa, Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah said

“According to the doctor, there is a tear in the interior cruciate ligament with some amount of bruising of the bone in the left knee and there is also a swelling of the knee,” said Shah.

“The doctor has recommended some exercises and Yuvraj has been advised to use crutches to take the load off the knee.

“At this stage Yuvraj will be unable to participate in the one-day series in South Africa.”

Wicket-keeper/batsman Dinesh Karthick, who was put on stand-by on Monday, will take Yuvraj's place in the 16-man squad which leaves for South Africa on Nov 13.

Seamer Ajit Agarkar, who broke his left thumb against the West Indies last week, will undergo a fitness test on Nov 10 in Mumbai, Shah added.

If Agarkar is declared unfit, he will be replaced by young fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh.

—AFP