Harbhajan, Yuvraj out of series

Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh will both miss the remainder of the npower Test series against England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India have confirmed.

It was already feared off-spinner Harbhajan was out of next week's third Test at Edgbaston because of an abdominal injury, while batsman Yuvraj was struck a painful blow on the left hand during India's defeat against their hosts at Trent Bridge.

They will be replaced by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and batsman Virat Kohli.

Harbhajan was largely ineffective at Nottingham, as was his opposite number Graeme Swann in a match dominated by seamers and batsmen.

But it transpired the world's leading active wicket-taker was bowling through the pain of what has since been diagnosed as a grade one lower abdominal tear, which will prevent him playing for the next three weeks.

The BCCI said: "Yuvraj Singh has fractured his left index finger, and Harbhajan Singh has an abdominal muscle strain.

"While Yuvraj Singh's injury may take around four weeks to recover, Harbhajan Singh is likely to recover in three weeks' time.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha as their replacements. Both players will join the Indian team at the earliest opportunity."

India are still hoping that Zaheer Khan, who was able to run without apparent discomfort in training shortly after the end of the match in Nottingham, will be able to return from his hamstring injury to lead the attack again in Birmingham.

Destructive opening batsman Virender Sehwag too was finally due to arrive in this country on Wednesday, after shoulder surgery, to try to somehow rescue a series India trail 2-0 with two to play and in which they will cede their Test number one status to England if they lose the next match.

Gautam Gambhir missed Trent Bridge because the elbow injury he suffered in the first Test at Lord's had failed to recover. The tourists hope the opener may be fit again soon.