Dinda called up as cover for unfit Ishant

India [ Images ] have called up uncapped Ashok Dinda [ Images ] to their squad as possible cover for paceman Ishant Sharma [ Images ], who is down with viral fever, the country's cricket board (BCCI) said on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Sharma, who needed surgery on his ankle earlier this year, missed Tuesday's practice but is expected to be fit in time for the first test against England [ Images ] which starts on Thursday.

"Ishant Sharma has got viral fever. He is expected to be fit for the first Test between India and England," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

"However, Ashok Dinda has been told to fly to Ahmedabad [ Images ] as a standby."

Both Sharma and Bengal paceman Dinda, who has played 10 one-dayers and five Twenty20 [ Images ] internationals, are unlikely to make it into the playing XI as Zaheer Khan [ Images ] and Umesh Yadav are expected to be the preferred choices from the pace department.