MUMBAI: Indian 'keeper-bat KL Rahul will undergo a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore on September 4, which will determine his participation in the rest of India's campaign for the Asia Cup.
Rahul had been ruled out of the first two games of the Asia Cup due to a minor niggle in the groin.
"He should be fine and is likely to be cleared to travel to Sri Lanka," a source told TOI.
The national selectors are likely to pick the team for the World Cup on September 5, with the chief selector Ajit Agarkar joining his colleagues from Kandy virtually for the meeting.
Host's name on players' shirts missing at Asia Cup
The one thing noticeable after the first three games of the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been that the name of the host nation, in this case Pakistan, has been missing from the players' shirts.
"At an Asian Cricket Council meeting last year, it was decided the practice of the hosts' name on the players' shirts will be stopped," a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board told TOI.
However, a source in the BCCI denied that any such decision had been made. In fact, all the participating players had India written on their shirts during the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE, in which India was the host country.
Indian teams to play QFs on September 21, October 3 for Asian Games
Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Indian men's team, which has been ranked No 1 by the organisers, will play its Hangzhou Asian Games quarterfinal on October 3 (9am local time) against a yet to be named team at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field (ZJUT Cricket Field).
The Indian women's team, who are likely to be led by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in that match, as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been suspended for the first two matches, will leave for China on September 17 and will play their last eight clash against a yet to be named opponent on September 21 (9am local time). The women's competition final will be held on September 25, while the men's final will be on October 7.
