By IANS
Mumbai : Former Baroda cricket team physiotherapist Nitin Patel will replace an injured John Gloster for the rest of the Indian team's ongoing tour of Britain, it was announced here Monday.
Patel is studying and working in England and will join the team now in Ireland for the three One-day Internationals against South Africa, said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Gloster broke his right elbow during a team's practice session in Belfast. He has been ruled out of action for four to six weeks, as he will now undergo surgery.
"It is decided to appoint Nitin Patel as physiotherapist with the Indian team for the duration of the Ireland and England tour," said BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty.
"Gloster sustained elbow fracture during a practice session and will be out of action for at least four to six weeks. He will join the team after his surgery and will advice and assist Patel in his work," Shetty said in a statement.
Patel is a qualified physiotherapist and had worked in that capacity with the Baroda's Ranji Trophy team for three years before going to England for higher education in this sphere.
Patel did his masters in sports and exercise medicine from the University of Nottingham in England, said Shetty.
He has acquired experience by working closely with the national high performance programme team to develop measures for injury prevention or pre-rehabilitation and rehabilitation.
The three-match ODI series against South Africa begins Tuesday in Belfast.