A serious back injury will keep Manoj Tiwary out of competitive cricket for atleast a month and half and the talented Bengal captain will not be a part of the Indian squad for the upcoming two Twenty20 Internationals against England.
Tiwary has suffered a muscle tear and is leaving for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore under physio Nitin Patel.
"The MRI report has come and I am leaving for Bangalore tomorrow. I will follow what physio Nitin Patel tells me to do once he checks the report. As of now it looks like six weeks," Tiwary said from Rajkot.
If Tiwary is out for six weeks, it could well mean that he won't be considered for selection for the limited overs series against Pakistan as well as the five-match ODIs against England.
The Bengal skipper was found writhing in pain while batting in the first innings of his team's Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra in Rajkot on Sunday. He retired hurt after fighting his way to 55 after which he was unable to continue and is not going to bat in the second innings.
It is unfortunate for Tiwary who recently scored 191 against Gujarat and also scored 93 for Board President's XI against the England side in the first tour game.
The 27-year-old also had a wrist injury earlier this season and he missed out Bengal's Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh in Indore.
The BCCI hasn't yet named any replacement for Tiwary.
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