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Akhtar may miss Lanka tour
The Pak bowler is doubtful to tour Sri Lanka next month after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of his left ankle.
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is doubtful to tour Sri Lanka next month after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of his left ankle, an official from the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old has been carrying the injury for nearly two months since he took 17 wickets in the 2-0 victory against England in the three-Test home series last December. He also skipped the three limited-overs internationals of the ongoing five-match series that India leads 2-1.
Pakistan are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests and three one-day internationals in mid-March.
"At the moment Akhtar is doubtful for the Sri Lankan tour because the injury needs time to heal," PCB's Director Operations Salim Altaf said. "Akhtar has been advised rest of at least six weeks because he has a stress fracture in his left ankle." Pakistan badly missed Akhtar's pace against a strong Indian batting line-up as the visitors successfully chased the targets of 266 and 289 runs in the last two limited-overs games.
Pakistan also suffered another blow ahead of Thursday's fourth limited-overs game in captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's home town of Multan when hard-hitting batsman Shahid Afridi was also ruled out of the remaining two games because of a rib injury.
Afridi took pain-killers and played Monday's day-night game, but visibly struggled in his team's five-wicket loss. He scored 19 runs off 18 balls and then was hammered for 24 runs in his three overs. Pakistan has recalled fast bowler Mohammad Sami for the last two matches.
