Lara pulls out of India tour

West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt has confirmed today that Brian Lara will miss his team's forthcoming tour of India.

Skerritt said in Colombo: "Brian has been advised by medical specialists in Colombo that he will miss the West Indies immediate cricketing commitments. That will obviously rule him out of the Indian tour and I've advised the West Indies selectors that a replacement will be needed for that tour."

However, he did not confirm that the ace West Indies batsman was suffering from hepatitis as earlier reports suggested, adding that there was nothing more to say on the matter for the moment.

The champion left-hander has been in a hospital for tests and observation for more than 24 hours now.

The West Indies are due to play three Test matches and seven one-dayers in India.