Yuvraj Singh

Sports Minister Ajay Maken has promised Government help to Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States to recover from lung cancer.

"Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government should & will help him," Maken tweeted.

Yuvraj, who played a stellar role in India's ODI World Cup triumph last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston.

The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs by his family.

His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary has, however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May.

"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 per cent curable," Chaudhary said.

"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to be back on the field in May," Chaudhary added.

"Thankfully no surgery is required, he is already a lot better than what he was and can't wait to be back on the cricket field."

Yuvraj, who was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup last year with 362 runs, 15 wickets and four Man-of-the-Match awards, has also been taking ayurvedic medicines to battle the disease.

Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career. In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50.

"Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation would be complete by April end and he would be perfectly fit to play in May," Chaudhary has said.

PCA assures help

Punjab Cricket Association has also assured full help to Yuvraj Singh.

"The PCA will extend full help to Yuvraj. He is our best cricketer and we are with him in this hour of crisis," PCA secretary, M P Pandove told PTI.

He said Yuvraj's illness had been discussed between the PCA and the BCCI and all his expenditure will be taken care of.

"We are all hoping that he gets well and plays for India and Punjab very soon," Pandove said.

Asked if the PCA had got in touch with his family, Pandove said, "We have sent mails to them since his mother is not in the country at the moment".

Commenting further on Yuvraj's illness, Pandove said, "It is very unfortunate that such a thing has happened. Yuvraj was at the peak of his career. We wish he gets well soon."



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