Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar [Images], who is undergoing treatment for the tennis elbow he is down with since last July, says he hopes to play in the upcoming home series against Pakistan.

"I will go by the doctor's advice. They have advised me to rest the elbow for another five-six weeks. Currently, I am doing some light training, but I have not yet resumed batting," he said in Mumbai on Monday, during the launch of a new  cellphone, G-Hanz.

"I played my last match on December 27 and have not touched the bat or ball since then.

"I will not hurry my return. I will only come back if I am fully fit. I hope that in the next five-six weeks the injury recovers and I am fit enough to play Pakistan."

He dismissed the theory that the injury was caused because of the heavy bat he uses.

"I would like to state that the injury [tennis elbow] is not because of the heavy bat. There have been some wrong reports published, which say that the injury was sustained because of the heavy bat, which is not correct.

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"I have been using the bat for 15 years now, and if the bat was a problem, then the injury would have cropped up long back and not now."

He said there would be no additional pressure on the Indian team, considering they are playing their arch-rivals at home.

"In international cricket, there is pressure every time you play, no matter which team you are facing. Just because we are playing Pakistan does not mean that there is some additional pressure; it is the same as other teams.

"Pakistan is coming to India after a long time and I am sure the series will be a closely-contested one," he said.

The master batsman also praised young pace bowler Irfan Pathan [Images], who in his first season in international cricket emerged India's leading pace bowler.

"Pathan has performed very well in the last season and was a vital member of our bowling attack. I hope that he continues his good performances in the coming season also."

Tendulkar said though he would not play, he would attend the Kapil XI vs Amir Khan XI Tsunami [Images] benefit match in Mumbai on January 28.

"I will attend the match and try to help in whatever way I can, though I will not play," he said.

PHOTOGRAPH: Arun Patil