By IANS
Mumbai/Kolkata : The Indian team management in Ireland Monday sent an SOS to three pacers on the eve of the first One-day International against South Africa as a number of top players were unwell.
The cricket board announced here that Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose have been told to leave for Ireland immediately while rookie pacer Rakesh Patel, who is playing in the Liverpool League in England, has been asked to reach Stormont Tuesday.
Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar and Rudra Pratap Singh have been laid low by viral fever and captain Rahul Dravid said in Stormont that he was also not feeling too well.
Dhoni missed Saturday's one-off ODI against Ireland due to the same reason.
"Agarkar, Sreesanth and Dhoni are still to recover fully and as a precautionary measure the team management, after consulting the board, have requested Rakesh Patel of Baroda who is currently playing league in England to reach Ireland tomorrow," said Ratnakar Shetty, chief administrative officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"The board is also making arrangements for Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose to join the team at Ireland within next two days," he said in a statement.
Dravid, while speaking to reporters in Stormont, admitted the situation was pretty bad in the team.
"Quite a few boys in our team are suffering from viral fever and flu symptoms," he said.
"It's not ideal, but it will give some of the other members of the squad a chance."
Bengal's Bose and Delhi spearhead Sharma, who recently went to Bangladesh as a replacement for an injured Munaf Patel and made his Test debut in Dhaka, were to join the team anyway for the three-match Test series against England beginning July 19 in London.
Patel, 28, is yet to play a Test or ODI despite playing 67 first-class matches for Baroda and Gujarat.
Both Bose and Sharma were happy at the surprise call.
"I am surprised to have been asked to head for Ireland. I am mentally prepared, but it is a huge surprise. I am elated," said Bose, who is yet to play a Test or ODI.
Bose, 29, received a call from Shetty who asked him to join the team two weeks before his scheduled departure for the Test series.
Sharma, 18, was not available on his mobile, but his sister said that he would be leaving for Ireland by Tuesday afternoon.