Bacher positive after bypass operation

Ali Bacher, the former chief executive of the United Cricket Board, is making good progress after his second heart bypass surgery

Bacher underwent heart surgery yesterday at the Morningside Medi-Clinic and according to the clinic he was "amazed" at how techniques had changed since his last heart bypass operation 25 years ago. "I really feel strong and healthy today," he told staff.

"Only one in 30 of our patients have bypasses these days. However, recent research has raised some questions about the long term durability of stents," John Benjamin, Bacher's cardiologist, told the Sapa news agency.

"In Bacher's unusual case, stenting his old bypass graft would have been technically simple, but we chose the long term proven safety of a modern arterial bypass instead," added Benjamin. It was not immediately known when Bacher would be discharged.