Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will not be in the starting line-up for the Indians' New Zealand tour opener
against a home team on Wednesday because of fever.

The lynchpin of the Indian attack now that leg-spinner Anil Kumble has opted out of the Test series, Harbhajan has been having fever on and off in the last few days and is being provided medical attention.

"It is nothing to get worried about and I should be well in a matter of a day," said Harbhajan, who nevertheless, will
be on bench for the Super Max game as a precautionary measure.

As if the fever is not enough, the ace spinner is having a torrid time, receiving calls on the shoe incident which is
denying him any rest. That his family back home too has faced a barrage of calls in the last one day did not help matters.

As more light is shed on the matter, it appears the fine had less to do with the cleanliness of the shoes and more with
the number of pairs of shoes declared. It seems the cricketers didn't remember correctly the number of pair of shoes they were carrying in their kit.

According to New Zealand's custom rules, any used pair of shoes in the baggage must be declared correctly.

Besides Harbhajan, it is also doubtful whether captain Sourav Ganguly and his deputy Rahul Dravid will play in 
tomorrow's game. The Indians would like to treat this game in a festive spirit only and not much importance is being
attached to it.