Tendulkar out for at least six weeks

Sachin Tendulkar: advised further rehabilitation © Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar, who recently ruled himself out of India's tour to West Indies, has been advised to wait at least another six weeks before returning to competitive cricket. Tendulkar met with the same doctors in London who conducted surgery on his shoulder in March, and it has been decided that he will continue with "a structured rehabilitation programme" of his right shoulder.

The medical team at the Hospital of St John and Elizabeth reached the conclusion that Tendulkar, though recovering "well and as expected" was not fit for international competition yet. In a statement released by the hospital, it was reported that his shoulder was now stable and had regained "a full range of motions although strength remains slightly weak". Though the doctors said that his biceps repair was good, there was still some discomfort in stressing a "weak" tendon.

Though the expected timeframe for a recovery from a major tendon stress would be 10 to 12 weeks, the doctors said that in Tendulkar's case the priority was to regain strength over the next four to six weeks. Tendulkar will be reassessed after a fortnight but will continue his rehabilitation during this time.

Meanwhile, Tendulkar has dismissed all suggestions of retirement and insisted that he would continue to compete in both forms of the game.