The good news is that Azhar should be back on the field soon, hopefully for the final of the Pepsi triangular at Bangalore on April 4. The bad news is we may not see him dazzle the world with his spectacular fielding for some time. The injury is bound to weigh heavily on his mind. One need not look beyond Javagal Srinath, who has modified his throwing action to increase his cricketing longevity.

Opines Ravinder Chadha, the Indian team doctor: ``It's the throwing which has caused the injury. It's a common problem with fielders with good throwing arms. Hopefully, with adequate rest, his fielding should return to optimum levels. Of course, the injury will not have any bearing on his batting.''

The side's fitness trainer, Andrew Kokinos believe that the Indian skipper is one of the fittest cricketers in theworld for his age.

Even trenchant critics will concede there is hardly anybody in the Indian team who shows such dedication to fitness as Azhar, who has whipped his body into shape by adhering to the virtues of exercise and diet. The awakening meant the calorie-conscious Azhar bidding adieu to some of his favourite food, especially non-veg.

Azhar's shoulder is a cause for concern as the Indian injury list is mounting with every passing day. The alarm bells are deafening: if a fit man like Azhar can buckle under the punishing schedule, then what hope do players with lower fitness levels have?

Anshuman Gaekwad, always discreet in his utterances to the media, gave a hint of the thinking within the team when he said: ``Of course, we are playing hell of a lot of cricket and there is physical strain on the bodies. Ideally speaking, we should not have had the present one-day series and the one that follows at Sharjah. But then this a world phenomenon, so we are sailing in the same boat. On a positive note, theinjury is a blessing in disguise for Azhar.''

Gaekwad believes Azhar's injury is because of his effort on the field. ``Every time he dives, the shoulders take much of the impact. This adds to the wear and tear of years of toil on the field.''

Dr Chadha, however, differs in his opinion. ``Azhar's is a case of chronic overuse of the body. Because he is fitter than most other players of his age, the injury has surfaced at a later age.'' Dr Chadha said that at 36, Azhar's bones are undergoing changes. So it's a crucial time for him.

But most players would vouch that more than the playing, it's the incessant travel which takes a heavy toll on their body and mind. Sleep patterns go for a toss when one has to criss-cross varying time-zones. One cannot go consistently against the laws of nature. The price has to be paid sooner or later. It's never easy to play a long innings or bowl 20 overs on a sweltering day and leave in unearthly time hours later to catch the next flight.

Azhar is undoubtedly one of thebest, if not the best, all-round fielder in contemporary cricket. His reactions in the slips, his reflexes at silly-point or his athleticism has been an inspiration for a generation of fielders. His multi-purpose abilities also glossed much of his team's deficiencies -- a side whose fielding is one of the worst in the world. With Azhar's sad injury, one shudders to think what will happen to the poor level of Indian fielding. Pity the captain, pity the coach.

THE MEDICAL OPINION/ DR ANANT JOSHI

Azhar is suffering an inflammation just above the right shoulder, an area which in medical terms is known as acromio-clavicular joint. The injury had been bothering since the past couple of months and he had tried taking injections which only provided temporary relief.

It had been restricting his throwing abilities. Besides, he was also finding it difficult to stretch fully while taking a run.

The injury is not serious. All it requires is seven to ten days rest coupled with some oral medication. Hewill be fully fit after the treatment.

(Dr Anant Joshi, the Mumbai-based sports medicine expert and orthopedic surgeon, is treating Azhar's injury)