Arjun Yadav asked to join team

Arjun Yadav, the 25-year-old allrounder, has been asked to join the Indian team which is caught in a flu-related illness crisis. Yadav was playing for Eglinton in the Irish leagues, when he received the call-up. He joins Rakesh Patel, Ranadeb Bose and Ishant Sharma, who have all been given emergency call-ups by the team management.

At least eight of the playing squad were feeling under the weather with Sreesanth, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, RP Singh and Ajit Agarkar the worst hit. Those five couldn't attend India's final training session at the Civil Service Ground.

That left India struggling to find 11 healthy players for today's match and Dravid said: "Quite a few boys in our team are suffering from viral fever and flu symptoms. It's not ideal, but it will give some of the other members of the squad a chance."

Yadav, who is the son of former India offspinner Shivlal Yadav, represents Hyderabad at the domestic level. He has scored 829 runs at an average of 19.27 in 47 List A (domestic one-day) matches. He has also taken six wickets with his part-time offspin.

India take on South Africa in the first ODI at the Civil Service Ground in Stormont later today.