Mumbai, May 26: Doubts have cropped up over pace spearhead Zaheer Khan’s participation in the ICC World Twenty20 championship, starting next week, as he has stayed back in South Africa to treat his bowling shoulder injury even as the BCCI on Tuesday dismissed the reports as mere speculation.

Zaheer suffered an injury on his bowling shoulder during the early part of the Indian Premier League while playing for the Mumbai Indians in Johannesburg on May 3 and underwent a scan that indicated some inflammation.

Though the team management said the injury was not as serious as was thought before the scan, the left-arm paceman did not play the remaining seven matches for his team in the IPL and has also stayed back in South Africa while his parents have joined him there.

"We are not aware if he has stayed back to receive any treatment for his injured shoulder there," team sources said, adding "He should be back in a day or two."

The Indian squad, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is set to depart for England on Friday to defend their title in the World T20 Championship commencing on June 5.

The BCCI, however, termed it as mere speculation. — PTI