Dhoni suffers back spasm before Asia Cup

NEW DELHI — Indian skipper MS Dhoni suffered a back spasm Monday during a practice session in a major blow to his team just ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup Twenty20, the national cricket body said. Dhoni, 34, sustained the muscle injury in his back during India's first workout in Bangladesh ahead of the 12-day tournament starting Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement. The BCCI named wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel as Dhoni's cover in the 15-member Indian squad for the event. Patel, 30, last played for India during the ODI triangular series in Australia in February 2012. "Parthiv has been summoned as (a) precautionary measure," the Indian team's media manager Nishant Arora said, according to the Press Trust of India. Dhoni's injury comes as the latest setback for his team after Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the Asia Cup last week since he failed to recover from a hamstring strain. The captain's back problem fuelled concerns over a rejig in the batting order, and even more so over his fitness ahead of next month's crucial World Twenty20, with India eyeing a second global title in the format. Bangladesh lifts ban on umpire Nadir Shah Bangladesh Monday lifted the 10-year ban on former international cricket umpire Nadir Shah, allowing him to officiate domestic matches. Shah was banned in March 2013 by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after a sting operation by an Indian TV channel found him apparently willing to fix matches for cash. The private India TV channel aired footage in October 2015, showing that the 52-year-old Shah was willing to give LBW (leg before wicket) decisions on demand. Shah, who has stood in 40 ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals, was one of six umpires caught in the undercover investigation, including three from Sri Lanka and two from Pakistan. All six were subsequently suspended by their own cricket authorities but they have consistently refuted the allegations. "We have found that the others umpires found guilty for the same offense had not been punished for more than three years," BCB president Nazmul Hassan told reporters. "So we've decided to lift Nadir Shah's ban. There will be no bar on him to conduct domestic matches." — Agencies