Sachin Tendulkar was "fully fit" and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) believed in the integrity of the batsman and the accuracy of team physiotherapist John Gloster's report, a top BCCI official said on Sunday.

"I think Sachin is fully fit to play cricket. Sachin is such a player that if he feels he is not fully fit then he will not take part," Board Secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters in Ahmedabad.

"The Board will go by the report of John Gloster," Shah added.

Coach Greg Chappell had said on Friday that Tendulkar, who was returning to the Indian team after a four-month layoff following a shoulder surgery, was not 100 percent fit and could not throw from the deep.

"One thing that every body has to bear in mind is that Sachin has just come out of a major surgery and a rehabilitation programme," Shah said.

The tri-series in Sri Lanka, from August 14 to 29, would be Tendulkar's first competitive assignment since the third and final Test against England in March.

The Mumbai batsman missed the one-day series against England and the entire tour of the West Indies.

Regarding Chappell's comments on Irfan Pathan, Shah said, "he is a little tired. But we need him as a fast bowler.

"There are about 10 more days to go (for the tri-series in Sri Lanka) and there are two warm-up matches," he said, indicating that there was enough time for both the players to recuperate.