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India might field a depleted pace attack as spearhead Zaheer Khan [Images] was yet to recover from a groin injury and seemed uncertain to play the one-off one-dayer against Ireland at the Civil Service Club ground in Belfast on Saturday.

• Schedule: India and South Africa in Ireland

“Zaheer Khan has had an injury coming here. So we are trying to just ease him into the tour. We are still trying to assess how well he progressed after two days of practice,” skipper Rahul Dravid [Images] said on Friday.

“Both Sourav Ganguly [Images] and Sachin Tendulkar [Images] can bowl a bit of seam and we have other options so we got to take a look at that.”

Zaheer suffered the injury while bowling in the Afro-Asia Cup series back home in India earlier this month.

India and South Africa play a game each against the hosts before squaring up against each other in a three-match series.

Dravid, however, made it clear that his team would mean business against Ireland.

“As international cricketers we are more used to playing on big stadiums and big concrete structures and to come back and play on such a ground is great,” said Dravid.

“It’s got a nice atmosphere for a relaxed game but I’m sure cricket is going to be pretty competitive.”

In alien conditions, and against a team that did wonderfully well in the World Cup, Dravid described Ireland as ‘dangerous opponents’.

“Having played in Scotland under such conditions I know it takes some time for teams coming in from the subcontinent to get used to it. The home team can be dangerous under such conditions.

“Ireland did well to reach the Super Eight of the World Cup. However, that also gave us an opportunity to see some of their players. We have some idea of what to expect.”

Source:Cricket News

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