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Javagal Srinath out of Independence Cup

Javagal Srinath, who dropped out of the Indian tour party at the start of the Caribbean tour with a shoulder injury, is recovering.

After a two-week stint in South Africa where he obtained treatment from Dr Mark Ferguson, Srinath returned to his newly acquired bungalow at Ramvilas Road in Mysore and has, since then, been engaged in physiotherapy and exercises aimed at recovering from the injury that deprived him of an opportunity to test his mettle against the Windies batting lineup.

However, it has now become certain that his absence from the Indian team will last till the end of the season, the curtain for which comes down on May 28 with the final of the Independence Cup four-nation ODI tournament that begins in India on May 7.

Srinath has informed BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur that his shoulder is improving, and rapidly responding to treatment. However, Dungarpur appears in no mood to hasten the Indian quick's return to the ranks, arguing that a premature return could do more harm than good.

"The injury that Srinath sustained is not the kind that can be cured in such a short span of time," Dungarpur said in Bombay. "There is nothing to be gained by playing him before he is 100 per cent fit - in fact, that could do immense harm, if his injury recurs. There is therefore no question of considering him for the Indian team for the Independence Cup, irrespective of any medical certificate he may submit to the Board," Dungarpur said.

Interesting, this - earlier, Srinath had been picked for the Caribbean tour despite all concerned - that is, selectors, Indian physiotherapist Ali Irani, skipper Sachin Tendulkar and manager Madan Lal - being aware that the Indian pace bowler had a major injury. When Srinath opted out of the Caribbean tour within two days of landing there - and without having bowled a single ball - a lot of criticism was levelled against his selection.

It would now appear that the BCCI has learnt its lesson - though Srinath's presence would have increased the star value of the Indian side, the BCCI in all likelihood will instruct the selectors to ignore him when it comes to picking the side.

Not that the selectors appear in need of instruction in this regard - chairman of the selection committee Ramakanth Desai, now recuperating after a heart attack, said that he was yet to receive any letter regarding Srinath's condition. "He has rotator cuff tear and, having been a fast bowler myself, I know what that kind of injury involves. It needs more than three months rest to cure," Desai argued. "And there is no sense in endangering your best fast bowler for the sake of a one-day tournament, by bringing him back into the side before he is fully fit."

The Indian quick, thus, will in all probability return to the Indian team only in August, when the next season kicks off with a series of Tests and ODIs against Sri Lanka.