NCA physio faces heat after Ishant Sharma's injury, pacer could miss IPL first part

resurfacing of Ishant Sharma's ankle injury has left BCCI red-faced and National Cricket Academy (NCA) head physio Ashish Kaushik under scanner. 31-year-old speedster could miss first part of IPL in case he is required to undergo rehabilitation at much-maligned NCA. Ishant joined Indian team in New Zealand 72 hours before first Test and bowled nearly 23 overs for a five-wicket haul.

Team manment tight-lipped

Indian team manment has remained tight-lipped about outcome of his scan results but according to sources in BCCI, same ligament injury on his right ankle has flared up once again. BCCI media team issued a release after 24 hours which didn't state anything or than what covering media here already knew. A few questions have popped up in BCCI circle with this latest injury fiasco.

"Once Ishant was ruled out for six weeks by Delhi team physio after his scan reports revealed Grade 3, how did Kaushik and NCA team come to conclusion that three weeks is good eugh for a return to competitive cricket?," a BCCI insider questioned.

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second question is: was re a greater push from player himself to get fit in time for Test series? third and most important point is: how thorough was rehabilitation given that team's most senior pacer didn't play a single competitive match, which is rm for any player coming back into national fold from an injury. Ishant had informed media here that he bowled 21 overs at NCA in two days, after which he was given clearance.

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He, in fact, tweeted a picture of his with Kaushik, praising NCA's role in his rehabilitation. Many in BCCI took this as positive publicity after some prominent India players, coming back from injury-induced breaks, opted for personal rehabilitation programme with ir IPL franchises over NCA. Recently, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that NCA will be a one-point centre for all contracted players.

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