India are set to take a final decision on Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy on February 11, the deadline for submission of the final squad to the ICC, as uncertainty lingers over his fitness.
ESPNcricinfo has learned Bumrah has had a scan on his back at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru in the last few days. The BCCI’s medical staff will now coordinate with the selectors and the Indian team management before the decision is taken.
Bumrah was included in the provisional 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy announced on January 18 but hasn’t been able to play a part in the ODI series against England, which are India’s last fixtures before the tournament begins on February 19. While it was hoped he would be able to play the third ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, Bumrah has now travelled to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
If India feel Bumrah is unlikely to play any part in the Champions Trophy, they could replace him with Harshit Rana, who played the first two ODIs against England. But if there is a chance Bumrah could be available in the later stages of the tournament, India could choose to keep him in the 15 and replace him later subject to ICC approvals. The ICC has set February 11 as the deadline for teams to submit their final 15 after which any replacement needs the approval of the tournament’s technical committee.
India are in Group A along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand and will play all their matches in Dubai after not being given permission to travel to Pakistan, the official host of the tournament, by the Indian government. They begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, before playing Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.
