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Kumble undergoes operation in SA
By Fakir Hassen
Jan 17, 2001, 18:20 Hrs (IST)

Johannesburg: Top South African orthopedic surgeon Mark Fergusson on Wednesday morning led a team to operate on the shoulder of leading Indian spinner Anil Kumble at a private clinic here.

South African physiotherapist Andrew Leipus, who usually assists the Indian team, said they expected the operation to go well. The doctor could not comment due to doctor-patient ethics, he said, but a statement would be released late on Wednesday afternoon.

Kumble came to South Africa last week for consultation with Fergusson. He decided to opt for surgery after regular physiotherapy failed to bring relief.

Kumble, who has not been part of the Indian team since November last year because of a right shoulder injury, is expected to be out of action for another four months. Jayawant Lele, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), confirmed that Kumble would not be available during the Australian tour to India starting February 14 and the Sharjah tournament that would follow.

It was in Sharjah during a Coca-Cola Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka on October 20 last year that Kumble aggravated a right shoulder injury, caused by a fall several months earlier. The injury did not heal because Kumble continued playing.

After receiving treatment, Kumble hoped to return to the international arena this month, but suffered the shoulder pain again during practice in Bangalore recently, following which he consulted Fergusson.

Fergusson has earlier treated Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar successfully for shoulder problems.

India Abroad News Service