Laxman stays, Murali to skip tie

Laxman is not going back home and there?s good news for India as Muralitharan will miss the match due to a bereavement in the family.

VVS Laxman, as it turns out, is not going back home. In a turnaround from the situation on Sunday night, when the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had stated that a replacement would be flown in for the injured batsman, no one is coming in, and no one is leaving. While he was ruled out for Tuesday's match, there’s good news for the Indian camp as Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the match due to a bereavement in the family.

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Meanwhile, the team management has decided to keep Laxman here, and see if he can be fit for the final, if India make it. "We have not asked for any replacement because the India 'A' team is in Zimbabwe so we don't get anyone from the second string team. We will have to play with whoever we have," said Ganguly. “There is a problem if we have to pick a squad of 14. The ICC should consider that every alternate day there is high intensity cricket. There are bound to be injuries to players in such a scenario," he said.

"But the rules of the tournament are such that with a 14-member squad if you have to get somebody else you have to send Laxman home. It does affect the team. But we have to stand up and deliver." Laxman had been hit on his left knee during practice before the Lanka match, and then again on Friday.

Lanka may rest key players

Muralitharan will not be playing the match, as he had to rush back to Kandy following his grandfather's death. Murali came to know of the tragedy after the nets at the Premadasa Stadium on Monday, and immediately left for home.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu has stated that the Sri Lanka would likely rest several key players and field the youngsters for the match, as per the policies of Sri Lankan cricket. While Atapattu did not take names, it is reliably understood that Mahela Jayawardene and Chaminda Vaas, who is suffering from a flu, are unlikely to take the field. If Vaas is sidelined, the attack would be led by Nuwan Zoysa.