NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Agarkar hopes to play against Pakistan

Pace bowler Ajit Agarkar is racing against time to get fit for the Test series against Pakistan.

Agarkar's hairline stress fracture of the right foot was noticed on his 21^st birthday, just a day before the Indian team left for New Zealand.

The selectors will pick the Indian team for the first Test at Madras during the three-day match against the Pakistanis at Gwalior, to be played from January 23 to 25.

Dr Anant Joshi, who is treating Agarkar, is keeping his fingers crossed. He said in Bombay today that the latest X-ray taken a few days ago shows the bone mending fast. The player is not feeling any pain while walking fast and in a day or two will be advised to practise his normal run-up, he said.

According to Dr Joshi, such injuries leave a gap for about five to six months and only a very perfect bone scan will trace it.

Agarkar hopes to play a few local matches before announcing his fitness.

The bowler holds the world record for capturing the fastest 50 one-day wickets in just 23 matches.

Ajit Wadekar, chairman of the selectors, and his colleagues are banking on him to replicate his one-dayer success in the Tests as well.

UNI