Nitin Patel appointed physio for England tour

MUMBAI, June 25: England-based Nitin Patel has been appointed the new physiotherapist of the Indian team for the tour of the United Kingdom, the Indian cricket board announced on Monday.
Patel, who was associated with the Baroda Ranji Trophy team for three years before going to England for higher studies, replaces the injured John Gloster who is out of action for between four and six weeks after breaking his hand.
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.
The Punjab bowler is bidding to regain his place for the seven ODIs against England that follow the Test rubber.