Dravid in hospital after being hit on jaw

RAHUL DRAVID has sustained a fractured jaw bone after being struck on the side of his face by a bouncer from Shahadat Hossain on the second day of the Dhaka Test, and is unlikely to play any further part in the match. His condition is "not serious" and there are no signs of a head injury, according to the Indian team manager Arshad Ayub.

"Rahul Dravid was struck by a ball on the side of his face today," Ayub said. "He was taken to the hospital and a fracture was detected. He is unlikely to participate for the rest of the match."

He also informed that Dravid would be kept under observation at a city hospital overnight and his release will depend on a medical assessment. "His condition is stable and he will be kept under observation."

Asked whether Dravid will return to India or stay back, Ayub said, "Nothing has been decided yet. We will take a call on that tomorrow."

Earlier, Mostafa Kamal, the BCB president, who visited the hosptial, said Dravid had sustained "light fractures". "I just met Rahul, he is feeling fine and is having his meal," Kamal told Cricinfo. "My doctors have told me that there are a couple of light fractures, nothing serious. He will be fine."

Kamal was quoted by Bangladesh TV channels as saying Dravid would be returning to India but he sought to clarify that statement. "I meant my doctors have told me he can go back tomorrow if he wants to. It's a decision for Rahul and the Indian board to make. There is nothing to worry about; everything is fine. He will be discharged tomorrow."

The incident occurred in the second over with the new ball, the 82nd of the innings, and with Dravid batting on 111 when he ducked into the bouncer. The ball didn't climb as high as he thought it would and hit his ear guard as he tried to get his head out of the way.

India already have injury worries with Yuvraj Singh suffering a minor hand injury, which kept him away from batting at his normal position today. He was seen padded up when night-watchman Harbhajan Singh was batting.

Ayub said Yuvraj's wrist was "not fine" and an update was pending. "Yuvraj has a sprain in his left wrist and was taken to the hospital for further investigation. A decision on whether he will be able to bat will be taken tomorrow."