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NEWS Cricket World Cup 2007>Pathan put on tenterhooks, asked to prove fitness 23rd Feb 2007 22.22 IST By Agencies The struggling Irfan Pathan 's place in India's World Cup squad was today put on tenterhooks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issuing a stern warning that the speedster had to prove his match fitness in a domestic game to retain his berth. The Baroda speedster, who missed the entire series against Sri Lanka because of a sore shoulder, will now have to wait till Sunday's Deodhar Trophy tie to know his fate.
The left-arm bowler had declared himself fit from his sore shoulder injury, but Vengsarkar said Pathan's performance for West Zone against Central Zone two days from now would be watched with keen interest by the selectors. "I would be there with other selectors to watch Irfan's overall performance and if we are not convinced of his fitness he will not go to the World Cup. We have not yet thought of any replacement, but it will be done in consultation with the captain (Rahul Dravid) and coach (Greg Chappell)," the former India captain said. "Irfan has not played for almost a month after picking up a freak shoulder injury. He has played only one match (against the West Indies at his hometown Vadodara on Jan 31). He then missed the entire series against Sri Lanka", he said. "The Deodhar tie offers the best chance for him to get back among the wickets and prove his fitness," Vengsarkar said at a World Cup promotional function by tournament sponsors Johnnie Walker in Mumbai. Vengsarkar also said that only the selectors will be there to judge the youngster's fitness and not team physio John Gloster. The chief selector's warning comes five days before the team's departure to the West Indies and the tie against Central is also Pathan's only match to convince the selectors that he's match fit. The team members would assemble in Mumbai on February 26 before departing for the Caribbeans on February 28 night. Vengsarkar said there would be no instructions from the selectors to West captain Amol Muzumdar on how to use Pathan as "West have a match to win." Also View In-Depth Coverage: Cricket World Cup 2007 Team Page: India Team Page: Australia | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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