Ganguly set to miss entire series

Published March 31, 2004

MULTAN, March 30: Indian captain Saurav Ganguly is likely to miss the ongoing Test series against Pakistan as his back injury has not shown any improvement so far.

The 31-year-old is flying back to India after being ruled out of the second Test in Lahore, according to Indian team manager Ratnakar Shetty on Tuesday. "There has been no sign of improvement in Ganguly's condition over the last three to four days and he will go home to Kolkata to consult doctors there," Mr Shetty told reporters.

Mr Shetty said that the scans carried out in Lahore have cleared Ganguly of any serious injury but the Indian skipper still complains of pain in the back. Ganguly suffered the injury during the last one-day match in Lahore last Wednesday and had to stay out of the first Test being played here. The Indian captain had to be carried off in a stretcher after he fell while trying to stop a ball.

The manager said that Ganguly is flying back to Kolkata on Thursday to consult a specialist. He may return back if the doctor clears him to join the team for the final Test in Rawalpindi, starting on April 13. Mohammad Kaif, who played in the recent one-day series, will arrive on Saturday to replace Ganguly in the 15-man squad.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...