Shoaib leaves for treatment Down Under

The pacer will remain out of action for two months to undergo treatment for a career threatening disease diagnosed in his knee.

Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is expected to remain out of action for the next two months after he left for Australia to receive treatment for a career threatening degenerative disease diagnosed in his knee and a persisting ankle injury.

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Quoting a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, The News reported that the pacer will be treated by a knee specialist in Melbourne, who will examine him and then recommend the required treatment or surgery.

"He has two major injuries not just one. He needs about two months to recover from the stress fracture and right now we don't know how long it will take for him to get over the knee injury," the official said.

"By next week we should be in a position to know when Shoaib will make a complete recovery and how serious his knee injury is," he added.

Already out of next month's Sri Lanka tour, Shoaib also missed the recently concluded home one-day series against India.