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Umran Malik Likely to Replace Injured Shivam Mavi in Asian Games 2023 

Rajgeeta Yadav

image-lmhkr5neUmran Malik Might Replace Injured Shivam Mavi in Asian Games 2023 [Twitter]

In a surprising turn of events, the Indian cricket team participating in the upcoming Asian Games 2023 has been hit by an unfortunate setback. Fast bowler Shivam Mavi, a key asset to the squad, has sustained an injury just days before the team's departure to Hangzhou, China for the highly-anticipated event. The specifics of Mavi's injury remain undisclosed at this time, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts in suspense.

Unlike conventional international tours, the Indian contingent for the Asian Games adheres to strict regulations that prohibit the inclusion of reserve players on the flight to the Games' village. To prepare for this significant challenge, Indian players have been summoned to Bangalore for an intensive two-week training camp under the watchful eye of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). 

Guiding this second-string Indian team in their quest for glory at the Asian Games will be former cricketing legend VVS Laxman, who takes on the role of head coach. Assisting him will be Sairaj Bahutule, who will serve as the team's bowling coach, and Munish Bali, who will be responsible for fielding preparations.

The Asian Games 2023 are scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8. Stepping up to lead the Indian squad in this prestigious tournament is Ruturaj Gaikwad. Initially, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had cited prior commitments, leading to the team's absence from the Asian Games. However, they later reconsidered this decision, opting to field both the men's and women's teams.

Given the concurrent 50-over World Cup taking place on home turf, the men's cricket team participating in the Asian Games will primarily consist of a B squad. The women's cricket competition is set to unfold from September 19 to 28, while the men's competition will commence from September 28 and extend until October 8, both competitions featuring the exciting T20 format.