Yuvraj should have moved to US for treatment earlier, says Yograj Singh

Chandigarh/Ahmedabad, Feb 6 (ANI): Father of ailing Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Yograj Singh on Monday said that his son should have been sent earlier to the US for cancer treatment.

Yuvraj Singh, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Boston Medical Centre, the same institute that treated renowned American cyclist, Lance Armstrong.

Yograj expressed anguish over his son's ailment and the delay in his being given proper medical treatment.

"His treatment was going on for the past six to eight months, I wouldn't want to blame anyone but when we knew that he had this problem then he should have been sent to America much earlier for treatment. He would have fully recovered in three weeks," said Yograj Singh.

Singh also thanked Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for covering all the expenses for Yuvraj's treatment and resting him for the series against Australia, which the left-handed batsman was eager to play.

"Every doctor tried his best but ultimately had the BCCI not taken this step to send him to America, we might not be having this conversation. He is on the road to recovery and will be fully fit because the doctor who is treating Yuvraj, also treated renowned American cyclist Lance Armstrong and stated that Armstrong's cancer was much acute but he recovered and today he has kids and is a great champion," Yograj added.

On January 27, Yuvraj Singh had said on a social networking site that he was reading Lance Armstrong's 2000 autobiography "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life".

Singh was the player of the tournament in the 2011 One-day International World Cup, which India won after a gap of 28 years.

In Ahmedabad, Yuvraj Singh fans organised a prayer session for his good health and hoped that he would make an early comeback to the team.

Holding Yuvraj Singh posters and singing religious hymns, his fans expressed their despair after they learnt about his illness.

"When we got the news that Yuvraj Singh has been diagnosed with cancer we all came together for this prayer session. We all pray that Yuvraj Singh becomes healthy again and makes a strong comeback to the Indian cricket team," said Raj Pura, a Yuvraj Singh fan.

Yuvraj Singh's Delhi-based physiotherapist Jatin Chaudhary had earlier stated that Singh's lung tumour, diagnosed initially as non-malignant last year, was cancerous and was fully curable.

American road cycling legend Lance Armstrong is arguably international sports' best known cancer survivor who went on to win a record seven Tour de France titles.

South African Dave Callaghan and Australian Simon O'Donnell also recovered from cancer to resume their career in cricket. (ANI)