Rohan Gavaskar to replace Kaif

Rohan Gavaskar will replace the injured Mohammad Kaif for the upcoming triangular series in Australia.

According to a statement from Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary S K Nair, the national selectors held a telephonic discussion on Friday evening and after seeking a second opinion from doctors on Kaif's thumb injury decided to include Gavaskar in the team for the one-day series, which involves India, Australia and Zimbabwe.

Gavaskar is expected to leave for Australia on Monday.

Kaif, who was named in the 16-member team on December 28, had sustained a right thumb injury during the Kenstar Asian 'A' cricket championship.

"The middle order batsman was initially examined by doctors in Kolkata and it was recommended that before a final decision in this regard, a second medical opinion on his injury be taken after few days," Nair said.

On Friday evening, Kaif was examined in Mumbai by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr Anant Joshi, who also heads the BCCI medical panel. Joshi told the Board that the dashing all-rounder's injury would take at least two to three weeks to heal and hence his participation in the triangular series, beginning on January 9, was ruled out, Nair said.