Tendulkar to have surgery on finger

Sachin Tendulkar will leave for the United States on April 26 to undergo surgery on a finger in his left hand.

The master batsman damaged his finger during India's recent tour of New Zealand. The injury worsened during the just-concluded World Cup, in South Africa, where  he top-scored with 673 runs before being named player of the tournament. 

 "He is likely to be in the US for four weeks and the Board would foot the expenses incurred on the operation," BCCI secretary S K Nair said.

"I know that he will be going for the operation but I don't have any other details. I have asked our Mumbai office (BCCI) to be in touch with Tendulkar," Nair added.

The injury forced Tendulkar to opt out of the ongoing Dhaka triseries.

He expected to be out of action for at least another three weeks after returning from the surgery.

After his team's 83-run victory against Bangladesh, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his side has improved a lot from the previous match against India and is on the "right track" to win the title.

"We improved a lot from the last game against India, but a lot of improvement is still required," said Smith, who won his first one-day international as captain of South Africa.

He said the inexperience of some of the bowlers is a matter of concern but was satisfied with the overall performance of the team.

"In some departments we did well. Batsmen spent some time in the middle and scored important runs. But there are a few things which are worrying us. Quite a few of our bowlers are inexperienced. They have never played outside South Africa. So they still have to adjust to the conditions here," Smith said.

"But we did well today. We have two more games to go in the league phase. Hopefully, our good performance will continue. We are on the right track."

Smith said it was nice to win his first match as captain and he thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's outing.

After walking the ramp, setting up a gymnasium and moving the courts to get his life ban revoked, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin is in the process of starting a new innings. At 40, and looking supremely fit, the Hyderabadi is in the process of setting up "a world-class cricket academy".

"I think I can do a lot of justice to Andhra Pradesh and the country. I can make sure that the academy runs well and, hopefully, produce international cricketers from the academy," he said.

The life ban imposed on him for his alleged role in the match-fixing episode prevents him from taking up a coaching job, but Azharuddin says he does not need the BCCI's permission to set up an academy.

"I don't think I have written any letter to the Board. I do not see any reason why I need to take permission to start an academy or to do commentary," said Azharuddin.

According to sunnt.com, his partner in the project is Hyderabad off-spinner Kanwaljit Singh. "We are not looking at quantity. We are going to pick and choose the boys and then we are going to train them. It is going to be a full-fledged academy and if we get the sponsors, we might go in for a residential academy," said Singh.

"If Azhar starts an academy, a lot of cricketers from Hyderabad can take advantage of it and am sure he will also give his experience to the youngsters," said former Test player and national selector Shivlal Yadav.

Ramnaresh Sarwan and off-spinner Omari Banks have been called into the West Indies squad for the second Test against Australia.

The 20-year-old Banks became the first player from the small Leeward Island of Anguilla to be named in a senior West Indies side.

Sarwan is included in the 15-man squad after recovering from the fractured finger on his left hand.

The team vice-captain passed a fitness test on Sunday after Australia's nine-wicket win in the first Test.

The 13 players named for the first Test have all been retained, although wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs is likely to miss out on the second Test after tearing a groin muscle in the opening Test.

A further assessment on the severity of his injury will be made once the squad arrives in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Alec Stewart is urging England's selectors to blood a new wicketkeeper for one-day internationals to take upon the role once he calls it a day.

Stewart, who will be 43 by the time the next World Cup, said it is not a statement of definite retirement from the one-day game, but he is of the belief that younger players should be picked ahead of him with the 2007 World Cup in mind.

Stewart told BBC Sport: "Realistically in 2007, when I will be nearly 44, I will not be playing one-day international cricket, probably not any cricket.

"This gives the opportunity for selectors to blood some new players, to look to the future and plan for the World Cup which, hopefully, we will win.

"It's not a definite retirement; it's just my belief that's the way the selectors should go."