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Harbhajan awaiting nod for surgery in US

June 16, 2003 15:13 IST

Ace spinner Harbhajan Singh is waiting for formal clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to go to Baltimore, in the United States, for surgery on his injured hand.

"I want to get it over as quickly as possible. Now that it's identified it's better I don't lose any time on it," said Harbhajan Singh from his home in Jalandhar.

Harbhajan said his meeting with the Board's medical experts, Drs Anant Joshi and Sudhir Warrior, was useful, in the sense they could identify the problem. He said reports indicated that surgery on the troublesome right index finger is absolutely necessary.

"Now a report by the doctors on my injury and suggested operation will go to the Board president's office, and once the formal clearance is gained, I will head off for the US," said Harbhajan.

"Of course, I can't really comment when I will be off for the US, because we also have to ensure the availability of doctors and confirm the dates," he said.

In all probability, Harbhajan said, the same doctor who operated on Sachin Tendulkar's finger in April, will perform the surgery.

"I spoke to Sachin (Tendulkar) and he too advised me to go in for an operation as quickly as possible. Since it is a hand injury, it's better it is attended to quickly," Harbhajan, who underwent an MRI scan at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Friday, said.

Harbhajan has been carrying the injury in his bowling arm because of the unusually wide and tight grip he employs to gain extra spin, a method criticised by former India great Bishan Singh Bedi and former Haryana offie Sarkar Talwar.

Bedi has advised Harbhajan to use a firm rather than tight grip to avoid extra strain on his bowling hand.

"I respect the advice of my seniors. But only I know what is good for me. If I go for a firm rather than tight grip, who knows I might not be able to land the ball at all in the right areas," Harbhajan said.


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Number of User Comments: 5




Sub: Question for Mr. BEDI

Hwo can one grip the ball firmly but not hold it tightly?


Posted by nandakumar menon





Sub: harbajans surgery

It is very unfortunate that an ace bowler of our cricket team has to wait so long to get approval from the board to have ...


Posted by ajit sreedhar rao





Sub: Cricketeers

What is the contribution of these cricketeers to the nation. They are a drain on nation's resources. What this chap Tendulkar has done to deserve ...


Posted by Venkatachalam





Sub: Who is paying?

Who will be paying for the services? I don't want to sound harsh. The public money should not be used to pay for services outside ...


Posted by RK Agnost





Sub: Sachin & Harbajan Surgery Costs

The best doctors in the world come from the subcontinent and particulary India.... why should an Indian Cricket icon travel to US when people all ...


Posted by Rashid Buhari




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