Srinath will be fit in three weeks, says doctor

Indian pace spearhead Javagal Srinath should be fit in three weeks, noted orthopaedic surgeon Dr HPC Khincha indicated in Bangalore on Monday.

Dr Khincha ruled out the speedster's injury was "serious."

"He may not be able to bat or field for three weeks," said Khincha, whom Srinath consulted on Sunday, immediately after he flew back home from Sri Lanka where he suffered a fracture in the little finger of his left hand in the Galle Test.

"That he has bowled in a match after getting injured is a good sign. Srinath has a fracture of the left fifth metacarpal bone joining the little finger and the wrist," he said.

The Indian speedster had suffered the injury after being struck by a Dilharo Fernando delivery in the first innings in last week's Galle Test in Sri Lanka. Srinath did not bat again in the match but grabbed five wickets in the first innings.

That Srinath should be fit in three weeks' will come as a relief to the Indian team dogged by injury woes. Apart from the speedster, other key players missing from the side due to injuries are Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble.