Harbhajan to undergo surgery in Melbourne

Ace Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was to undergo surgery on his injured finger in the United States, has had a change of mind and will instead go to Australia for the purpose on Saturday.

Board of Control for Cricket in India executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar said, according to a letter from Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya, the surgery will be performed by hand and lower limb surgeon Dr Gregory Hoy at the Avenue Hospital, Windsor, in Melbourne.

"Harbhajan spoke to Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne last week, along with finger specialist Dr Sudhir Warrier, and decided to get his finger operated upon in Australia, as Warne himself had got operated successfully for a similar injury four years ago," Diwadkar said.

Last week, BCCI doctor and sports medicine expert Dr Anant Joshi had said orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dror Paley, who had successfully operated on Sachin Tendulkar's finger last month at the Sinai Hospital in Baltimore (US), would be the first choice for Harbhajan's surgery.

Diwadkar said the offie will be in Australia for eight to ten days, and be accompanied by Dr Warrier.