KABIR Ali has hit out at the England Lions' management after he was told he would not be touring India due to an ankle injury.

The Worcestershire seamer was packed and ready to head off to the sub-continent, but the 27-year-old was informed he was carrying an injury.

"There is no injury," Kabir claimed. "To be honest I'm quite annoyed. I feel like I have been messed around.

"I know my body. I'm fine and I felt that this was my chance to prove what I'm capable of playing for England.

"My figures last season show that I was one of the best on the county circuit and I have experience of bowling out in India. I was out in India when I was told that I was going to be picked for the Lions tour so I came home and now I'm not going back.

"Maybe this can be a blessing in disguise for me. I can now make sure that I'm ready for the new season and prove people wrong.

"I'm 27 and I still have England ambitions and I felt this Lions tour was going to be my chance. It's very disappointing."

However, the Lions management team have defended their decision to leave Kabir behind.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: "Kabir was seen by the medical team at Loughborough last week where they felt that he had an injury to his left ankle.

"It was our belief that it would have prevented him from taking a full part in the tour. We also have a responsibility to Worcestershire to ensure that there is no further damage to Kabir."

Kabir's New Road colleague Steven Davies was also forced to withdraw from the Lions squad which heads out to India later this month after picking up a knee injury.

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper, who will have his knee scanned next week, was hoping to use the tour to push his claims for a place in the senior squad.

With no first-choice gloveman in the England squad heading out to New Zealand, Davies was hoping for an impressive showing out in the sub-continent.

With young Warwickshire wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose being given the nod for the tour Down Under, 21-year-old Davies is understandably disappointed at missing out.

"The injury has just come at the wrong time for me," Davies rued. "Before Christmas I felt it a little when I was walking down the stairs but it wasn't really affecting me.

"However, after Christmas I tried going for a run and I could only last for a couple of minutes.

"With no first-choice England wicketkeeper I could have used this tour to stake my claim, but the management felt that I would not have been able to do myself justice so I have to accept it."

With Andrew Flintoff also not heading out to India with the Lions squad as he continues his rehabilitation from ankle surgery, Essex wicketkeeper James Foster, Gloucestershire quick Steve Kirby and Nottinghamshire seamer Charlie Shreck have been called up.