Dighe returning home, Ganguly scraps Calcutta visit

The beleaguered Indian cricket team on Wednesday suffered a jolt when wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe was ruled unfit for remaining of the Test series against South Africa.

Dighe, who joined the squad for the Test series, did not play the first Test after having pulled his back muscle and doctors said he would not be fit in time for the remaining two matches, Team Manager M K Bhargava told PTI.

The team has not sought any replacement for Dighe, Bhargava said. India already has one wicketkeeper in Deep Dasgupta.

Meanwhile, skipper Sourav Ganguly has decided against going to Calcutta to spend a couple of days with his wife and new-born daughter. Ganguly will instead play in the tour match against South Africa 'A' starting in East London on November 10, which is the only practice game ahead of the second Test.

"I want to have some practice before the second Test," he said. Ganguly has failed to get a big score in either of the two innings in the first Test that India lost by nine wickets.

The second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on November 16.

PTI