A perplexing episode

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, FEB. 22. It was neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor the national selectors who asked Mohammad Azharuddin to seek second opinion about his injured thumb on Monday.

Azharuddin, who was first examined by Dr. G.A. Pachore at the Bombay Hospital on Sunday was not satisfied with the results shown by the X-ray. He appeared to be very anxious and asked people attending to him in the dressing room to arrange for a second investigation. He told them that he would not like him to play unless he was fully fit.

The X-ray films were then shown to Dr. Nitin Gajjar, an orthopaedic and hand specialist. He identified a chipped bone on the base of the right thumb and not on the joint.

``Dr. Pachore wanted 48 hours for reassessment. But Andrew Leipus (team physiotherapist) suspected a chipped bone. Dr. Gajjar confirmed it and said Azhar could not play for seven days. There was swelling and he was not able to bend the thumb.'' was what the source said.

The selectors chose Ajay Jadeja only after Dr. Gajjar certified Azharuddin not fit to play the first Test. All this happened in the Patiala dressing, Cricket Club of India (CCI) on Monday afternoon.

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Section  : Sport
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