BCCI appoints Nitin Patel as new physio to replace injured Gloster

Mumbai, Jun 25 (UNI) The Indian cricket team will have a new physiotherapist for its tour of United Kingdom with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointing England-based Nitin Patel.

Patel, who was associated with the Baroda Ranji Trophy team three years before leaving for England for higher studies, replaces the injured John Gloster who is out of action for about four to six weeks after breaking his hand, the BCCI stated here today.

The new physio has done his masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from the University of Nottingham in the UK.

''He has acquired experience (by) working closely with national high performance programme team to develop measures for injury prevention/pre-rehabilitation and rehabilitation,'' BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said in a statement.

Gloster will join the Indian team after undergoing surgery and will assist Patel, he added.

Meanwhile, the Board has permitted off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to play for Surrey in English county cricket.

Harbhajan was dropped from the Indian side for the five ODIs in Ireland and Scotland as well as for the three-match Test series commencing July 19.

UNI