Pakistan's Shoaib out for four to Six Weeks
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Pakistan’s injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will not initially be considered for next month’s tour of England after being told to rest his injured ankle for three weeks.

“Since he has been advised three weeks rest for his swollen ankle and is not bowling he will not be considered immediately for the tour,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Saleem Altaf said on Thursday.

“He has to start bowling first and be passed fit and he can join the team later on,” he said.

Shoaib is nursing an ankle injury and had a knee operation in Australia in February.

The 30-year-old, who has 165 test and 199 one-day wickets, has not bowled since January when he played in the home series against India.

He will be examined by a PCB medical panel later this month and they will evaluate his chances of joining the squad in England.

The board is awaiting reports from specialists in South Africa and Australia to find out when Shoaib can resume bowling.

The Pakistan squad is due to be named on Friday with the first of four tests against England starting on July 13.

Pakistan are expected to take a pace-dominated bowling attack to England. Fast bowler Mohammad Sami is in line to make a comeback after being dropped in the home series against India.●