'Visa issue require to be addressed'

RP Singh, who has been named as a substitute for Zaheer Khan, is yet to reach England due to a delay in obtain the visa and captain Dhoni is not amused.

Zaheer Khan is one of the three Indian players ruled out of the outstanding England tour due to a right hamstring and ankle wound. The other two are Harbhajan Singh (abdominal strain) and Yuvraj Singh (finger fracture).

India skipper MS Dhoni, though, recommended a quick-fix so that similar delays due to visa don't happen again in future.

"If we can organize visas for all 30 contracted cricketers for all the major nations (where India normally tour), this problem could have been avoid. That would mean anyone could fly in as a substitute or alternate at any given time," Dhoni told a leading daily.

The BCCI, in spite of having full a reserve list to the British High Commission, couldn't organize a visa for Singh, which adds to the agony of the Indian team that is having a horror time in England, down 0-2 in the four-match Test series.

Singh is predictable to arrive in England later on Thursday.

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RP Singh: I won't let down selectors

Left-arm pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, who has replaced Zaheer Khan for the rest of the England tour, believes he will justify selectors' faith.

"Ever since Zaheer bhai walked out of the Lord's Test holding his hamstring, I was hopeful about my probability of making it to the Indian team.

"I know I have been away from international cricket for some time now, but I have been maintaining my fitness and bowling a lot in the nets. I can vouch, I am match fit and will not disappoint the selectors," RP said from Delhi, where he is making preparations to fly off to England.

Seeing the plight of the Indian bowling on the ongoing tour, many former English cricketers have been enquiring about the Rae-B areily Express, because when India had last visited England in 2007, Zaheer (18 wickets) and RP (12) had troubled the English batting line-up.

The duo along with Anil Kumble (14) had ensured India's 1-0 series success in the three-match series. RP's problem lies in being mentally prepared for a huge task of propping up a stressed team, particularly as he last played a Test match over three years ago.

In 2008, after failing to make a crash in Chennai and Motera against South Africa, he was dropped for the Kanpur Test and thereafter ousted from the Indian team in total, despite skipper MS Dhoni's strong plea for his inclusion.

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