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

Harbhajan, the lynchpin of Indian attack now that leg spinner Anil Kumble has opted out of the Test series, apparently has had fever on and off in the last few days and was being provided medical attention on Tuesday evening.

"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 in Wednesday's game as a precautionary measure.

As if the fever was not enough, Harbhajan has been having a torrid time receiving calls on the shoe incident, which is denying him any rest and 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 pair of shoes declared. It seems 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 a baggage must be declared correctly.

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

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