Injured Sarwan Ruled Out of Sharjah Tour

In a devasating blow, injury has forced in-form West Indies middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan out of the team, less than two weeks before the start of of their series against Pakistan, to be played in Sharjah from January 27.

The 21-year-old Sarwan is suffering from lower back pains(strained lumbar paravertabral muscle) and is currently receiving treatment in Guyana for the year-old problem, team manager Ricky Skeritt announced.

Sarwan, batting at No. 3, showed good form in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka. He scored 318 runs at an average of 53.00 during the three-match series, which Sri Lanka won. He featured in a couple of century-stands with Brian Lara, who amassed 688 runs in six innings.

The West Indies will also be without their number one batsman in Lara, who had dislocated and fractured his left elbow in a collision with Sri Lankan Marvan Atapattu. However, Lara is expected to be available for the home series against India which starts in April.

Skerritt said that although Sarwan is progressing, he is not recovering quickly enough and hence the decision was made to leave him out of the tour.

As a result the selectors have called up experienced Barbados captain and former West Indies vice-captain Sherwin Campbell.

* Source: WICB