Sehwag ruled out of third ODI

Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the third one-dayer against Pakistan at Lahore owing to a shoulder problem. Sehwag, who rediscovered his form with a blistering half-century in the last game, is being rested as a precautionary measure and is likely to be replaced by his Delhi team-mate, Gautam Gambhir, whose only match practice on this tour was a fifty against Pakistan A more than a month ago.

Sehwag suffered a shoulder spasm early in his innings at Rawalpindi when he smashed Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for a six over third man. He required immediate attention with John Gloster, the physio, who treated him on the field. Rahul Dravid had been unsure about the nature of the problem, when asked about it in the post-match press conference, but Sehwag, who said he felt a twinge after he played that stroke, will now miss out.

Harbhajan Singh is also doubtful for the game after a finger injury had kept him out for the first two matches at Peshawar and Rawalpindi and may have to wait a bit longer before he plays his first ODI in Pakistan. "Harbhajan Singh's injured finger has improved, but the team management does not want to take a chance," said GS Walia, India's media director. Ramesh Powar was called up as Harbhajan's replacement for the second ODI. Powar played as the Supersub but did not bowl or bat in India's seven-wicket victory.