Tendulkar8217;s availability uncertain for tri-series

Tendulkar had suffered back spasms during the first Indo-Pak Test in January end at Chennai.

Indian cricket team doctor Ravinder Chadha said in Chandigarh that Tendulkar8217;s back problem was not serious8217; and that he had gone to London only to get a second opinion from a specialist.

Tendulkar has gone to find out why he was experiencing stiffness in his back after a long innings. 8220;Sachin is certainly going to be fit for the World Cup in May because the problem is not serious and unlikely to linger on till then,8221; said Chadha.

Tendulkar8217;s problem was diagnosed as sacio iliatis8217; with back muscle spasms after he was in immense pain during his six-hour long century in the first Test against Pakistan in Chennai on January 31.

Chadha said Tendulkar consulted orthopaedic doctor SP Mandal in Delhi and a subsequent Magnetic Resonance Image MRI scan had turned out to be normal.

He was advised to go for a second opinion after he complained of stiffness during his second innings century of 124 on February 28 against Sri Lanka in the Asian Test series in Colombo. The batsman was advised to strengthen his back, shed some weight and take rest, Chadha said.

The problem arose only after long innings, Chadha said. They did not want to take any chances and it was felt the problem should be tackled in the initial stage to avoid any aggravation in future, keeping the World Cup campaign in mind.

8220;Long innings, fatigue and dehydration due to hot weather in the South resulted in the stiffness,8221; he said. Tendulkar will consult Dr Philips, who had treated former Australian captain Greg Chappell, Chadha said.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Azharuddin said in Hyderabad that he was unaware about the gravity of Tendulkar8217;s injury.

8220;Our prayers and the best wishes of our countrymen will see that Sachin returns home without any problem,8221; Azharuddin said. 8220;We would definitely miss his services in the forthcoming triangular series,8221; he said.