Laxman ruled out of remaining IPL matches

In a setback to the beleaguered Hyderabad, its captain VVS Laxman, sustaining an injury on his right wrist, has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League.

Laxman told reporters here that his injured right wrist will take two weeks to heal completely, which virtually gives him no chance to play in the remaining matches as his team plays their last league tie on April 27.

“It will take two weeks for my wrist to heal completely. So, I am not playing for two weeks and (Adam) Gilchrist will lead the side,” said Laxman, who met the media with straps on his injured wrist at a children's programme ahead of their match against Delhi Daredevils here on Thursday.

In Hyderabad, team CEO J. Krishnan confirmed that Laxman's injury, below the right wrist, has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture and will no more feature in the remaining matches.

The stylish batsman injured his wrist during the match against Bangalore in Bangalore on May 3, the sixth match of his team. After that Gilchrist led the side in the last three matches.

Laxman said his side was not being put under pressure from their franchise owners — the Deccan Chronicles — despite having won just two of their nine matches so far, unlike what had happened to Bangalore.

“We are not being pressurised by out team owners. They know their cricket and we are in this position (bottom) because we lost a few close games.”

“I am very happy at the way they (the owners) are supporting the players,” he said.