http://www.cricketnirvana.com/news/...090130-651.html
Akhtar out with knee injury
Shahid Hashmi
Friday, January 30, 2009 604 PM
Karachi: Injury-prone Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka next month. The 33-year-old paceman had an MRI on his troublesome left knee and after the report was handed to the Pakistan Cricket Board, their medical expert Dr. Sohail Salim said Akhtar will not be able to take part in the series.
The injury-prone fast bowler, whose ten-year career is besotted with injuries and discipline problems, was dropped from the third and final one-day match against Sri Lanka earlier this month as he failed to perform and was not hundred percent fit.
"He needs a keyhole surgery on his knee. There are loose bones floating in his knee. We must not linger on and an operation is a must,'' said Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam. As of now, Akhtar is likely to be out of action for three-four weeks.
Former captain Shoaib Malik questioned his commitment and fitness after the second match but took a U-turn before the third, saying that he never named Akhtar and was talking of all the eleven players in the team.
Sri Lanka return to Pakistan on February 14 to play a three-day side match and two Tests – the final dates of which are yet to be announced.
Akhtar had operations on both his knees in early 2006 forcing him to sit out of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka and England the same year. The controversial fast bowler was awarded central contract this year only after playing three Twenty20 matches in 2008. A hamstring injury forced him to sit out of all three one-day matches against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi in November last year.
He missed out on a contract last year through injury and lack of discipline. On his exclusion from the contract, Akhtar publicly criticised the PCB which imposed a five year ban on him in April. The ban was later reduced to 18 months with a fine of Rs seven million (one hundred thousand dollars).
Akhtar appealed against the ban in Lahore High court which was suspended. His appeal against the reduction of the ban and fine is still pending with the court.