Sreesanth for Munaf

Sent back home from Chittagong last week, following a strained calf muscle, Team India pace hope S Sreesanth will return to the world stage nine days from now. The 23-year-old will replace the other injury victim, Munaf Patel, in the Asian XI for the Twenty20 match versus Africa XI for the Afro-Asia Cup in Bangalore on June 5.

Sreesanth may even make it to the Asia XI for the three ODIs that follow — he’s in the mix with Pakistan’s Umar Gul to replace Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas, who has pulled out to honour his first-class commitment for Middlesex. Sreesanth, currently training in

Bangalore, has recovered from the “soft tissue” injury which he picked up after returning to the field in the first ODI against Bangladesh just over an hour after he was struck by cramps. And just when he had started bowling again in the nets over the last two days in Bangalore, he got two calls — from Asia XI coach Roger Binny and BCCI administrative secretary Prof Ratnakar Shetty — confirming his Asia debut. He is now eagerly looking forward to share space with the likes of Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza for the Twenty20 match.

And, if he does get picked for the ODI series, he will be part of an exciting, young bowling line-up, along with Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif.

But then, on the flip side, the Team India management would be concerned that Munaf Patel is yet to recover from the stiffness on his lower back. More so, with a gruelling season coming up against England, Pakistan and Australia.