Ishant keen to prove his worth

NEW DELHI: Delhi paceman Ishant Sharma, who has been named as a replacement for injured Munaf Patel in India's Test squad for the ongoing cricket series against Bangladesh, is keen to prove his worth if given an opportunity in the second Test.

"I am happy to get a call into the national team. I am keen to prove my worth if given an aportunity", the 18-year-old paceman said on Friday.

Sharma, who has been in the selection fringe for some time now, was named as a replacement for Patel who will return home after being declared unfit due to a lower back spasm.

Patel strained himself while bowling in the nets on Thursday and had to sit out of the first Test against Bangladesh that began in Chittagong on Friday.

"My strength is the in-swinger. I have worked on it. I have been with the under-19 team and played most of the Ranji matches. So I feel confident", Sharma said.

"I had been to New Zealand and Malaysia recently and my fitness is okay at the moment", he added.

Patel became the third member of the squad to return home due to an injury after S Sreesanth and Manoj Tiwary.