Yusuf Pathan may miss rest of Ranji season

Yusuf Pathan, the India and Baroda allrounder, is in doubt for the remainder of the Ranji Trophy season after suffering a knee injury. Yusuf hurt his knee while taking a diving catch off the bowling of Irfan Pathan during Baroda's third-round game against Haryana.

"We have lost Yusuf Pathan due to a knee injury. He might need around four to eight weeks of rest," the Baroda coach Sanath Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. Yusuf hasn't made an impact yet this first-class season. He has scores of 9, 10 and 23 so far in the Ranji Trophy 2011-12 and has picked up just one wicket.

Baroda's concerns don't end there. Their opening seamer Murtuja Vahora, too, is injured and will be out of action for their next game against Delhi that starts on November 29. Vahora, who picked up a five-for against Haryana, injured his thigh while attempting a sweep.

"It's a big blow but the replacements are pretty good," Sanath said. Replacing Vahora is allrounder Abhijit Karambelkar. "He's done very well in the Under-22. He's already scored a century and has two five wicket-hauls and is a good medium-pace allrounder," Sanath said.

The offspinning allrounder Utkarsh Patel has been called up in place of Yusuf. Baroda, the runners-up in the Ranji Trophy last year, have had mixed results in the first few rounds of this Ranji Trophy. Their opening game against Tamil Nadu was virtually rained out, they beat Madhya Pradesh comprehensively in the second round and conceded a first-innings lead in the drawn game against Haryana.