Aussie docs waived fees for Kapil's surgery

Australian doctors waived their fees while treating India coach Kapil Dev on the recent tour, according to team manager Mahendra Bhargawa. Speaking exclusively to this correspondent in Mumbai before leaving for his home in Indore on Thursday, Bhargawa, himself an ENT specialist, said, "Australia's renowned orthopaedic surgeon John Bartlett did not charge a single dollar for treating Kapil Dev. Bartlett considered it to be an honour to treat a player like Kapil Dev who holds the world record of capturing the highest number of wickets (434) in Test matches".

Kapil had to undergo knee surgery on the tour. He returned to his coaching stint just hours after the operation. Kapil, when contacted at his Sunder Nagar residence in New Delhi, said "I am feeling much better but am in no mood to comment on team's performance."

Last year, India captain Sachin Tendulkar too was not charged for his back problem by Australian doctors.

Though Australian doctors have refused to charge anything for Kapil's surgery, his post-operation and hospitalisation charges are to be borne by the Oriental Insurance Company. "These players are covered under mediclaim and hence the Board of Control for Cricket in India will incur no expenses on Kapil's treatment" remarked a high level BCCI official. "India's wicket keeper-batsman MSK Prasad too was not charged anything for the treatment to his injury by Dr. Michael Johnson" explained Bhargawa.

Bhargawa is likely to submit his 'confidential' report to Board president AC Muthiah within a week's time. For obvious reasons and being under contract, he declined to comment on controversial issues, but stressed, "I don't think Mongia was ill-treated on tour. As far as I know, there was good harmony among players" signed off Bhargawa.