'Sachin may not play Champions Trophy'

Sachin Tendulkar was rated "seriously doubtful" for the ICC Champions Trophy by India captain Sourav Ganguly here on Friday.

The master batsman has been struggling with an elbow injury which saw him miss the whole of last month's triangular event in the Netherlands and ruled him out of the ongoing one-day series with England.

But Ganguly, in a marked change to previous India statements on Tendulkar's fitness which have stressed how they expect him to be fit for the Champions Trophy which starts in England next week, cast doubt on his participation.

"We will look at it again on Sunday," Ganguly told reporters at The Oval here Friday after a 70-run defeat saw England take the three-game series 2-0.

"But at the moment I'd have to say he is seriously doubtful."

The England series concludes at Lord's on Sunday.

India, joint-holders of the Champions Trophy along with Sri Lanka, start the defence of their title against Kenya on September 11 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.