Shoaib Akhtar doubtful for World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan's top fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar could miss out on next month's World Cup after breaking down with another knee problem, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Sunday.   

"Shoaib apparently has a knee problem but we still have to know the extent of its seriousness," Saleem Altaf, PCB director of cricket operations, said.   

"He will have scans to confirm how serious the injury is but he has been advised to rest it for some three weeks."   

The World Cup starts on March 13 in the West Indies with Pakistan playing the opening game against the hosts.   

Akhtar, 31, Pakistan's leading bowler with 169 test and 208 one-day wickets, returned home from South Africa last month with a hamstring problem.   

He had made a return to the Test side after 11 months but could bowl in the first innings only of the second Test at Port Elizabeth before he broke down.   

"I am deeply disappointed with this new injury. I am so keen to play in the World Cup because this is the peak of my career," Akhtar said.

"I am still hoping the injury can clear up with a few weeks rest which would allow me to recover in time for the World Cup but everything depends on the scan results."   

Akhtar also underwent knee surgery last year in Australia in February and since then has played in only a couple of one-day games in England and one Test.   

He was banned for two years last year after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone but cleared by a PCB tribunal.