Ganguly doubtful for Sri Lanka one-dayers

MUMBAI, Friday (AFP) - Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was on Friday ruled out of competitive cricket for 10 days due to an elbow injury, making him a doubtful starter for the upcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Ganguly was advised to rest for 10 days after being examined by orthopaedic doctor Anant Joshi and team physiotherapist John Gloster, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

Ganguly, 33, was to lead India Seniors in next week's domestic Challenger one-day Series in Mohali, a selection trial for the seven-match series against Sri Lanka starting on October 25.

Ganguly's injury also put the selectors in trouble because they have to name the captain on October 13, the last day of the Challenger Series, and the team the following day.

The October 10-13 tournament would have given Ganguly a chance to silence critics who have been calling for his ouster because of his poor batting form.

Ganguly has been dogged by form and fitness problems in recent months. He contributed just 48 in three home Tests against Pakistan early this year.

He scored a century against Zimbabwe in the opening Test at Bulawayo last month, but his painstaking six-hour knock against the weakest attack in international cricket did not satisfy all his critics.

Ganguly and coach Greg Chappell were involved in a public spat last month with the coach saying in a leaked e-mail to BCCI chiefs that the captain was unfit to lead the team.

Ganguly, the most successful India captain with 21 Test victories, is only the fourth batsman in one-day cricket to complete 10,000 runs after compatriot Sachin Tendulkar, Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Encouraging news for India, however, was the return of Tendulkar after a long absence due to an elbow injury.

Tendulkar, who last played an international match in April, has been declared fit for the Challenger Series.

"I feel comfortable while batting (in the nets)," Tendulkar told reporters on Friday.