The Hindu : Bad back sends Sehwag back

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 25, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Bad back sends Sehwag back

By P. Subramanyam

LONDON JULY 24. Leicestershire has cancelled its contract with India's opening batsman, Virender Sehwag, by "mutual consent" for the rest of the summer owing to his persistent back problem, BBC Radio Leicester announced on Thursday.

Sehwag has been suffering from a sore back and a scan revealed a disc problem. He was advised a break from the game for at least six weeks. He is returning to India and hopes to be fit for the home series against New Zealand, starting in October.

Leicester coach, Phil Whitticase, told the BBC, "in these circumstances, we have both agreed that it is in his and the club's best interests that he returns home to link up with the Indian team's medical staff.

"His long-term health and fitness are of paramount importance," Whitticase said, and added: "we are very grateful to Virender for the consideration he has shown to the club, and are naturally disappointed that he will not be available to us for the rest of the season."

Sehwag scored 478 runs in six Championship appearances for the club, including two centuries. His final match was in the Twenty20 Cup semifinals against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge when he was dismissed for five as his side slid to a seven-wicket defeat.

The news is a big disappointment to Leicestershire and Sehwag fans, mostly of Indian origin, who flocked in large numbers to see him bat.

"I hope Leicestershire will give me the opportunity to play for them again at some stage in the future," Sehwag said.

Sehwag's manager, Latika Khaneja, said the injury was not serious but "Sehwag felt it would be better if it heals in time for the forthcoming season in India."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport