Virender Sehwag after being struck on the right thumb, in Colombo, on Friday

Colombo: Senior pro Virender Sehwag was struck on the right thumb by a 19-year-old quick, during Friday’s nets at the P. Sara Oval, but he’s expected to be fit for Sunday’s World Twenty20 clash against England.

With England thrashing Afghanistan, both India and England are through to the Super Eights, so it’s not that everything is riding on that match.

The bowler in question, right-armer Sachin Peiris (so named after the one and only Sachin Tendulkar), plays for the Colombo Cricket Club and became rather apologetic.

For the other local bowlers, however, Peiris became somewhat of a hero.

“Sehwag’s a big player... I didn’t bowl fast... The surface was uneven, so the ball just took off... I had no intention of hitting him,” Peiris said defensively.

While Sehwag should be available, there’s some doubt over Suresh Raina, who is down with a severe stomach upset. He skipped the practice session.

If Raina’s not fit, then the door will open for Manoj Tiwary.

Yuvraj Singh also missed the day’s nets, owing to a sore throat. That won’t be reason enough to keep him away from the park, though.

Meanwhile, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni presented a new bat and a fresh pair of gloves to Afghan ’keeper Mohammed Shahzad, who looks up to him and is also a “good friend.”

The gloves and the bat were handed over to Shahzad on Thursday.

“Dhoni has promised to send another bat and more gloves to Dubai (Afghanistan’s next port of call). He’s been so nice,” Shahzad told The Telegraph.