Didn't Board know extent of Srinath’s injury?

A fax sent by the doctor who treated Javagal Srinath has put the Board of Control of Cricket in India in a spot.

BCCI secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya claims nobody knew how bad Srinath's injury was before the fast bowler was picked for the West Indies tour. But Dr Mark Ferguson, who first treated Srinath in South Africa, had sent a fax dated February 6, to team doctor Ali Irani, when the Indian team was still playing a triangular series in South Africa.

Though Dr Irani says he informed the board, BCCI officials deny it. The fax states that Srinath needed urgent medical attention. But Srinath was persisted with for the next few matches. And though he was allowed to field on leg, where the ball is less likely to go, he still had immense trouble even with a few simple throws. He could bowl only with the help of cortisone injections. Continual use of cortisone could actually aggravate rather than alleviate the problem.

Now Srinath has been told that he cannot complete the tour of the West Indies. He may not even play the Independence Cup in May since he has been told he has been advised three months rest with exercises to repair the damage done.

But the question stands: Didn’t the BCCI know how badly injured Srinath was despite seeing him wince in agony while lobbing the ball to the wicket-keeper? Maybe, maybe not.

Dr Ferguson's fax to Dr Irani