Ganguly backs Nehra

Delhi pace-man Ashish Nehra has won his captain's backing to prove his fitness in Mumbai on September 22, 23.

"Let the experts give their ruling on the subject. Let's not pre-empt things", Ganguly told the Press Trust of in Kolkata. The Indian skipper added that Nehra had spoken to him over the phone and updated him about his fitness.

"So far as I am concerned, Nehra is fit and going to South Africa. He spoke to me only a few days back and said he was quite all right," Ganguly said.

On Tuesday, September 18, the BCCI appointed sports medicine expert Dr Anant Joshi had found that Nehra's was less than completely fit. "He was even struggling to clear the agility and flexibility tests conducted in Chennai," Dr Joshi told the Times of India.

Nehra meanwhile has been categorical in his assertions about his fitness. "I am fully fit. I am experiencing no pain whatsoever and I am sure of clearing the fitness test in Mumbai," Nehra told PTI.

He explained that he was not bowling at full tilt when Dr Joshi saw him. "It was just three days, since I resumed bowling, then (in Chennai). I am practising hard and I will prove my fitness in Mumbai," he said.

The national selectors have meanwhile also asked Debashish Mohanty, Ajit Agarkar and Rakesh Patel to report for the fitness tests. If Nehra fails the tests, one of the trio will be named as the replacement.

Will Dr Joshi change his opinion in Mumbai? For that we will have to await the next episode of what has now turned into an unseemly soap opera.