Injury forces Harbhajan out of the first Test

Georgetown, April 11: Ending days of speculation over Harbhajan Singh's fitness, Indian team Manager Goutam Dasgupta said the off-spinner has been ruled out of today's first Test against West Indies here due to a nagging shoulder injury.

"According to physio Andrew Leipus, Harbhajan is still not able to throw properly and hence would not be considered for the first Test," a disappointed Dasgupta told last evening.

Pointing out that it was a recurrence of an old injury Dasgupta said "Leipus feels Harbhajan needs to be rested in the first Test in order to be allowed to recover.

"Leipus doesn't want to take any chances considering we still have four Tests and five one-day internationals ahead in this series, not to mention the long season ahead," he added

Sarandeep Singh, a fellow-spinner, has been named in a 13-member squad for the opening Test, Dasgupta said

Also left out were paceman Tinu Yohannan, wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra and middle-order batsman Dinesh Mongia

Harbhajan suffered the injury on bowling shouler during a three-day fixture against Guyana Board President's XI here on Sunday. His omission comes as a big setback for the Indians considering the wicket for the first Test which is likely to assist spinners

India (from): Sourav Ganguly, S S Das, Deep Dasgupta, S Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Sanjay Bangar, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Sarandeep Singh, Zaheer Khan, A Nehra and Wasim Jaffer.