Umran Malik will replace injured Indian teammate Shivam Mavi during the Asian Games, according to a report

The Indian cricket squad, which is scheduled to compete in the Asian Games, has taken a significant hit before departing for Hangzhou next week. According to reports, fast bowler Shivam Mavi hurt himself a few days ago and won’t play in the continental tournament. However, it is unknown what exactly happened to him.

The BCCI senior selection committee will reportedly shortly make the announcement on Mavi’s successor. Ajit Agarkar and company were reportedly eager to choose Yash Thakur, who was maintained on the standby list, but the Vidarbha bowler also had a back injury. The selecting committee will focus on Jammu’s Umran Malik in his absence.

Before departing for Hangzhou, China, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-captained Indian side is scheduled to congregate at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a two-week training camp. VVS Laxman, the head of the NCA and the squad’s head coach, will keep a close eye on the players of the second-string Indian team while they practice. As bowling and fielding instructors, Sairaj Bahutule and Munish Bali will be there with Laxman.

Asian Games teams for men and women

The BCCI picked a “B Squad” to play cricket in the Asian Games while the main squad prepares for the domestic 50-over World Cup. The top women’s team, on the other hand, will compete at the Asiad.

Kanitkar will lead the women’s squad.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, a former all-rounder for India, will serve as the team’s temporary head coach during the Asiad. Earlier this year, the former all-rounder captained the Harmanpreet Kaur-headed team in the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Kanitakar will go to China with other members of the support staff, including coaches for bowling and fielding like Rajib Dutta and Subhadeep Ghosh.

Cricket is back at the Asian Games.

The Asiad included cricket in both its 2010 and 2014 iterations. India didn’t field a squad, however. The cricket was abandoned in Jakarta in 2018, but it’s expected to resurface in China this year. The nation’s zero-Covid policy caused it to be postponed from last year, when it was originally scheduled to take place.