Harbhajan awaits board permission to travel to USA for operation

Harbhajan Singh is set to make a trip to the same American hospital where Sachin Tendulkar just had an operation on his right index finger. Harbhajan is hopeful that he will receive permission from the Indian board to travel to Baltimore in the next few days.

Harbhajan injured his finger during India's tour of New Zealand earlier this year, and recently had to pull out of his contract with Lancashire, after a scan last week revealed the need for an operation.

"I want to get it over as quickly as possible," Harbhajan explained. "Now that it's identified it's better I don't lose any time on it. Once the formal clearance is gained, I will head off for the US." He added that it is likely that he will be dealt with by Dror Paley, the same surgeon who operated on Tendulkar's finger in April.

"I spoke to Sachin and he too advised me to go in for an operation as quickly as possible," continued Harbhajan. "Since it is a hand injury, it's better it is attended to quickly."

Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Anant Joshi, a medical expert from the Indian board, said, "Harbhajan underwent an MRI scan and X-ray on his finger after specialist Dr Sudhir Warrior, who also treated Sachin's finger before he decided to go in for an operation in the US, advised him to do so."