Dhoni suffers spasm, Parthiv Patel called as back-up

Selectors have called up left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel as a back up for Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the India limited overs skipper suffered a muscle spasm while training here on Monday.

The Indian cricket team is currently in Bangladesh to participate in the Asia Cup, to be held for the first time in the Twenty20 format, from February 24 to March 6 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

"India ODI and T20I captain MS Dhoni has suffered a muscle spasm in the back during a training session today in Dhaka," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Parthiv Patel as the back-up wicketkeeper for the upcoming Asia Cup, 2016. He will join the team in Dhaka at the earliest."

The 34-year-old Dhoni suffered the spasm while training at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, which is on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital.

Patel has played 20 Tests, 38 One-Day Internationals (ODI) and just two Twenty20 Internationals, last representing India in an ODI against Sri Lanka four years ago at Brisbane.

Dhoni's fitness is crucial for the team as the Asia Cup will be followed by the all-important World Twenty20, to be played across seven Indian cities from March 15 to April 3.