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Feb 14, 2006

Injured Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh have returned back to India after they have been advised rest before the England Series. Harbhajan didn't play any part in the One Day Series in Pakistan due to a swelling to his right index finger. Harbhajan's injury has been left to natural healing and he might be fit enough to play in the 1st Test against England starting March 1. Sehwag had aggravated a shoulder injury while he was playing a upper cut shot for six over third man off Rana Naved. The Indian Vice-Captain had felt terrible pain his shoulder and required immediate attention from John Gloster. Sehwag continued his innings bearing the pain to score a well required fifty for his team. The dasher however missed the Lahore match which the visitors won by 5 wickets.

Virender Sehwag has a left posterior shoulder muscle injury according to reports and has been advised two weeks rest. Mumbai's all rounder Ramesh Powar is there in Pakistan along with the squad but India haven't used a frontline spinner after the Peshawar ODI. Even Sachin Tendulkar has been bowling medium pace. India is likely to use all pace options for the remainder of the series considering the threat from the big hitting Pakistani batsmen. However with the disastrous spell from Zaheer Khan who was thrashed all over during his quota of 4 overs, Ramesh Powar could well be tried but it depends on the Indian Skipper's confidence in bowling the spinners as the grounds do not seem to be too large and the outfields being really quick. India now with the absence of Virender Sehwag are a bit unsettled at the top with left hander Gautham Gambhir not looking comfortable in the little stay he has had at Lahore. If India can win the 4th ODI at Multan on Thursday, then they can seal the 5-ODIs Series 3-1.

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