PCB quashes rumours over Shoaib's action

A senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday vehemently rubbished speculations that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had gone to Australia to undergo a biomechanic test on his bowling action after questions were raised during the recent home Test series against India.

"These are all baseless rumours. Shoaib can't even run, so where does the question of him undergoing biomechanic tests on his action in Australia arise," Saleem Altaf, Director Cricket Operations, told `The News'.

"He has gone to Australia to purely consult a knee specialist Dr. David Young, who has by the way, told us he'll be operating upon both knees on Tuesday to remove pieces of cartilage which are floating," Altaf said.

Considerable controversy was created during the series against India when the Indian coach Greg Chappell and a noted commentator raised questions over Shoaib's action which has not been tested under the ICC's new bowling action review protocol that came into effect last March.

Shoaib's compatriot pacer Shabbir Ahmed has been banned for 12 months under the new protocol for having an illegal action. Altaf said Shoaib had gone to Melbourne to consult Young as he had a serious knee injury coupled with a stress fracture of the ankle. "The specialist will carry out the surgery to remove floating bodies in both his knees. It's a clean up," he said, adding, "Shoaib is also suffering from a degenerative arthritis related problem, for which another surgery might be required."

Altaf said Shoaib, who has taken 165 Test and 199 One-day International wickets, is going to require a minimum of six to eight weeks to recover from the knee operation and resume training. "On Tuesday the surgery being carried out is not a radical one; it is basically to clean up cartilage pieces. But after this operation is done the specialist will have some more tests to see what is causing the other problems and whether that also requires surgery. Our orthopaedic specialist will also be sent latest reports by Young and will see if more radical surgery is required."

Shoaib, 30, had already been told to rest for around six weeks to recover from a stress fracture of his ankle that has ruled him out of next month's tour of Sri Lanka. Pakistan play two Tests and three One-day Internationals against the Sri Lankans.

Shoaib also missed Pakistan's 4-1 loss to India earlier this month in the home one-day series. Altaf said Pakistan obviously wanted to do everything within its powers to have Shoaib fully fit for the England tour from late June. "But everything depends on how long it takes him to make a complete recovery."