Powar celebrates his 30th b'day

CHITTAGONG: All-rounder Ramesh Powar on Sunday celebrated his 30th birthday with the Indian Test cricket team members at a banquet hall here.

Cricket manager Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh were also present along with all other support staff at the party on the 15th floor of the team hotel where Powar cut a giant-sized cake.

The portly offspinner, earlier woke up to congratulatory phone calls this morning from fellow Indian team members, who also wished him at the breakfast table.

The Mumbai-born Powar, known for his combative attitude on the field, is playing his debut Test for India against Bangladesh here. The third day's play was abandoned on Sunday due to rains.

Powar has already played 20 ODIs for India after beginning his international career at Rawalpindi opposite Pakistan in 2004. He has picked 27 wickets besides having one half-century to his credit in his ODI career.