Kaif joins team in Sharjah

Promising middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif from Uttar Pradesh joined the Indian team in Sharjah this morning.

Kaif has replaced Rahul Dravid, who injured his left ring finger when he dropped Alistair Campbell off Zaheer Khan in the Sharjah triseries match against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Dravid, who is expected to be fit in two weeks' time, will return home on Thursday.

The Indian team management ruled out any new replacement for Anil Kumble, who is suffering from a sore shoulder and is unlikely to play any further part in this tournament.

"Instead of looking for replacements, we must use the youngsters who are on this tour," said skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Two of India's young hopefuls, Sridharan Sriram and Hemang Badani, have been sitting in the dressing room. They didn't get a game either at Nairobi during the ICC tournament.

Mail Cricket Editor