Shoaib and Gul to undergo rehabilitation

Injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul have been asked to appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) medical commission soon after their arrival from South Africa later this week.

A PCB official said that both Shoaib and Gul would be examined by the board's doctors who would later decide on a rehabilitation plan for both.

"Since the World Cup is less than two months away, we would not be wasting time and plan to put the two bowlers on a rehabilitation programme right away," said Dr Ahsan Malik, PCB's director of communications. "They are two of our main bowlers and we would try all measures to assure they are fit in time for the World Cup."

Shoaib withdrew midway through the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth with a hamstring injury after taking four vital wickets in the first innings. He is also said to be carrying a knee injury and his availability for the World Cup in the West Indies is not guaranteed.

Gul, Pakistan's most successful fast bowler in 2006, was ruled out of the series after suffering an ankle injury in the lead up to the first Test at Centurion.