Tendulkar out and Pathan doubtful for final ODI

Sachin Tendulkar will miss India's final ODI before the World Cup © AFP

Sachin Tendulkar will not take part in the final one-dayer against Sri Lanka at Vishakapatnam because of a stiff back, the Indian board has confirmed. However, the injury to Tendulkar, who wasn't part of the squad that arrived in Vishakhapatnam today, isn't considered serious and he will rest in Mumbai so that he can recover in time for the World Cup.

India already have worries over Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar and Pathan is all but ruled out of the clash as well. "It's highly unlikely that we'll play him," a member of the team management told Cricinfo, "as it would be a risk to play him when he's not 100% fit. There's no point in risking him ahead of the World Cup."

Agarkar missed the first two ties with a bout of flu and looked flat in the third game at Goa . Yuvraj Singh is also easing his way back into the team from a three-month lay-off after rupturing his knee ligament. He had a stiff back, too, and missed the first two one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

The team management haven't sought any replacements. Suresh Raina and Rudra Pratap Singh, who were brought in as cover for Pathan and Yuvraj, have been sent back to join their state team, Uttar Pradesh, for the Ranji Trophy one-dayers.