Laxman, Zaheer to stay back for remainder of tri-series

VVS Laxman who guided India for their first victory of the Coca-Cola Cup against Sri Lanka and opening bowler Zaheer Khan are to stay back for the remainder of the tri-series despite their injuries.

Laxman was to go back home to attend to his knee surgery before India game against Sri Lanka on Saturday, but he stayed back because of the suspension of skipper Saurav Ganguly who was suspended for that match.

But after the batsman guided India to victory through an unbeaten 87 which not only won him the man of the match award but also kept India's chances alive in the competition, the team management had decided to play him in the remaining matches. Laxman played Saturday's game with a bandage, fielded throughout during the Sri Lankan innings and was in the middle from the third ball of the Indian innings.

However the batsman will definitely miss the Test series against Sri Lanka as his surgery will take four weeks to heal.

Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan who is suffering from a stress fracture on the right shin, is expected to fly to Chennai for a bone scan after the One Day Series and his availability for the Test matches will be decided on the results of the report.

The other left arm paceman Asish Nehra who is suffering from a groin injury is also set to miss the Test series.

The Indian selectors will pick the squad for the Test series in Mumbai on Thursday.