Dhoni suffers spasm, Parthiv called as back up

Gujarat wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has been summoned to Dhaka for the Asia Cup Twenty20 as a cover for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

A BCCI release said that Dhoni “suffered a muscle spasm in the back during a training session” at Dhaka on Monday.

Patel, 30, has been recalled for a Twenty20 international after four and half years. He kept wicket for India in a Twenty20 match against England at Manchester in August 2011. His last ODI though was against Sri Lanka at Brisbane in February 2012.

The Indian cricket team is currently in Bangladesh to participate in the Asia Cup, to be held for the first time in the Twenty20 format, from February 24 to March 6 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

The BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said “The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Parthiv Patel as the back-up wicketkeeper for the upcoming Asia Cup, 2016. He will join the team in Dhaka at the earliest.”

Dhoni’s fitness is crucial for the team as the Asia Cup will be followed by the all-important World Twenty20, to be played across seven Indian cities from March 15 to April 3.