Injured Laxman out of Bangladesh series

VVS Laxman will be returning to India from the tour of Bangladesh after injuring his finger while dropping a catch in the first Test in Chittagong. But MS Dhoni, who missed the first Test due to a back strain, and Harbhajan Singh, who sat out due to a stiff neck, have recovered completely and are fit for the next game in Mirpur on January 24.

"Laxman is returning home tomorrow. There will be no replacements," Arshad Ayub, India's team manager, said. Laxman dropped Bangladesh top-order batsman Shahriar Nafees on the fourth day and showed signs of pain when he tried to stop an outside edge that fell just short of him a few balls later. Laxman needed ten stitches on his left hand, and with India taking a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, the decision to send him back home was taken.

However, India will be boosted by the recovery of Harbhajan and Dhoni. Harbhajan bowled a long spell to Rahul Dravid on the center pitch immediately after the game ended, and Dhoni, who looks likely to take over the reins from stand-in captain Virender Sehwag, has been batting in the nets from yesterday.

Sreesanth, too, sustained an injury on the final day of the Test, straining his hamstring, and was forced to walk off the field in the middle of an over to get some medical attention. "Sreesanth has a light strain on the hamstring. It's too early to say the damage," Ayub said.