September 20
Lara out of Indian tour with mysterious illness

COLOMBO: Brian Lara will miss the forthcoming tour to India through illness, West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt said on Thursday.

But in a statement to media he refused to reveal what was wrong with the top batsman who was taken to hospital two days ago when suspected hepatitis was the initial diagnosis.

"Brian has been advised by medical specialists in Colombo that he would miss the West Indies' immediate cricketing commitments," said Skerritt. "That will rule him out of the Indian tour and I've advised the West Indies selectors that a replacement will be needed for that tour."

The statement ended: "Out of respect for Brian's privacy, the West Indies team manager will make no further public comment on this matter." The tour to India starts on October 4 and includes three Tests and seven One-day Internationals.

Speaking after the release of the statement, Skerritt said he was unable to say what was wrong with Lara. "If I could say that, I would have put it in the statement," he said. Skerritt did confirm Lara was still in hospital in Colombo, but could not say when he would be released, or when he would return home. Lara was admitted on Tuesday after he scored 111 in the West Indies' 29-run win over Kenya in the ICC Champions Trophy clash.

Skerritt said then that Lara's symptoms included discoloured eyes, weakness and dehydration. A statement released the same day said the left-hander was suffering from suspected hepatitis. Hepatitis is an illness that primarily affects the liver. It has various forms, is potentially serious and symptoms include a general lethargy.

"The process of choosing a replacement has begun," said Skerritt on Thursday. "The selectors here in Sri Lanka and back home are in contact, but I would expect any announcement would be made by the West Indies Cricket Board back home."

It is likely an opening batsman will replace Lara. Candidates include Darren Ganga, Devon Smith and Leon Garrick. Fast bowlers Cameron Cuffy, Jermaine Lawson and Darren Powell, and off-spinning all-rounders Marlon Samuels and Gareth Breeze will arrive in Sri Lanka on September 25 to bolster the squad ahead of the Indian Test series that begins on October 9.

Vasbert Drakes and Corey Collymore will leave the one-day squad, while Runako Morton has already returned home following a family bereavement. The West Indies will be eliminated from the Champions Trophy if, as expected, South Africa beat Kenya in the final match in Pool 3 today.