Former Test batsman Ashok Malhotra will coach India in the early games of the one-day tri-series starting in Dhaka on Friday.

Malhotra will do the job until John Wright, in New Zealand following his father's death, returns to take over, according to Karunakaran Nair, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI had earlier said Wright would miss the entire April 11-20 tournament, in which South Africa and hosts Bangladesh are also taking part.

Nair denied media reports that captain Sourav Ganguly may not travel to Dhaka because of a back strain.

"He will be leading the team," he said.

India, who lost to Australia in the World Cup final, will be without batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and seamer Ashish Nehra due to injuries, while fast bowler Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble have opted out of the trip.