Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's right toe may need surgery and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would bear the expenses, BCCI sources said in Mumbai on Saturday.

"As the pain still continues, the senior specialists are considering a few other alternative treatments which may include either a local injection or even surgery," the sources added.

Tendulkar, who had suffered a hairline fracture to his toe while playing in the Triangular one-day series in Zimbabwe, underwent a bone scan on August 9. He was forced to pull out of the three Test series in Sri Lanka from August 14, as the scan showed that the fracture of the sesaunoid bone of the great toe had not healed properly.

However, Tendulkar would consult a few more specialists before deciding on surgery and should be fit for the South African tour to start on September 28 till November 28, sources said.

Tendulkar has already written to the BCCI secretary JY Lele about the possible surgery.

© PTI