Tendulkar's recovery on schedule

Sachin Tendulkar's recovery from a shoulder operation is on track, the Indian board has announced.

Tendulkar, who had surgery in London last month, is at the end of the second phase of a three-step rehabilitation which should take eight weeks in all. But although Tendulkar is progressing as expected, he is still likely to miss the one-day segment of India's tour of the West Indies, which starts on May 12.

"He has progressed at a rate anticipated by both the surgeon and myself to this point," Niranjan Shah, the BCCI's secretary, said in a statement. "He will now move into phase three of his rehab program which will involve increasing further ranges of shoulder movement as well as commencing strengthening activities as tolerated."

Tendulkar, 32, was reviewed by John Gloster, the Indian team's physio, three weeks after the operation. The BCCI stated that Tendulkar has continued to improve as far as his range of active movement, tissue healing, and day-to-day functions are concerned. It was also revealed that the level of pain felt by Tendulkar has decreased.

The third and final phase runs up to May 1, after which Tendulkar is expected to begin batting practice with a light bat.