India dealt T20 blow

India's hopes of success in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament have been dealt a real blow as batsman Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the competition.

Their vice-captain has been in top form in the Indian Premier League but a shoulder injury has ruled him out of the Caribbean tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed that he needs to rest the injured joint for four weeks and will be replaced in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20 by Murali Vijay.

Gautam Gambhir will take over as vice-captain to Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India look to repeat their success in the 2007 competition.

They are have been drawn with South Africa and Afghanistan in Group C and play their first game against the later in St Lucia on May 1st.

India fans will be looking for Vijay to repeat the form he has shown in the IPL, where he scored 417 runs for the Chennai Super Kings, to help the side through to the Super Eights stage.

However, even without the talismanic Sehwag the cricket betting makes India favourites to win the World Twenty20.

The captain of Group C rivals South Africa, Graeme Smith, recently said that Afghanistan could be a surprise package who could cause problems for both his side and India.

He warned they have some "talented cricketers" who have nothing to lose in the Caribbean, something which will make them "dangerous" opponents.

Meanwhile, in football news, England remain third favourites in the World Cup online betting ahead of this year's tournament in South Africa.