BCCI to foot Dravid's medical expenses

Kolkata, December 28: The Indian cricket board will bear all the medical expenses of vice captain Rahul Dravid when he goes to South Africa for the treatment of his injured shoulder.

''Dravid has been carrying the shoulder injury for some time but it is time he got treatment. The BCCI will bear all his medical expenses in South Africa'', cricket board president Jagmohan Dalmiya told a press conference here on Friday.

Dravid has already opted out of the forthcoming one-day series against England and the Challenger Cup series to proceed to South Africa for consulting doctors and for necessary treatment.

Asked how long Dravid may take to regain full fitness, Dalmiya said that the vice-captain could be out of action for about four to six weeks.

Dalmiya said that he had a talk with Dravid and Indian team physio Andrew Leipus on the nature of his injury in Bangalore during the last Test against England.

''After discussions with them, we felt that Dravid should not take too much risks since he is an asset for the team. He was allowed to go for treatment in South Africa''.

Dalmiya said that as per experts, Dravid required isokinetic testing and training and shoulder manipulative therapy which were not available in the country.

He said that physio Leipus will be making necessary arrangements for Dravid's treatment in South Africa but did not specify which expert the Indian vice captain will be consulting.