Asif to be examined by foreign specialist

KARACHI: Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Asif will be examined by a foreign specialist to assess the seriousness of his elbow injury and the best possible treatment for it.
    
The injury forced Asif to withdraw from the one-day international series in India last week and they are also doubts if he will recover in time to play in the Tests that follow from November 22.
    
Asif is presently undergoing a rehabilitation process in Lahore but the Chairman of the Pakistan cricket Board said on Thursday that a foreign medical expert would now examine him.
    
"He is a key player for us and we want to be sure he gets the best possible treatment and also does not make a premature return and damage his career," Nasim Ashraf said.
    
He said it would only be confirmed after the foreign expert examined him when he could resume playing again.
    
"Only than will we know if he can join the team for the Test matches but we have to give him minimal rest period for his injury," Ashraf said.
    
The PCB chief also stated the board was not in favour of allowing its pace bowlers to go and play in English county cricket as it exposed them to fitness woes and burnout.
    
"Personally, I think it is too much off a burden on a bowler and we have kept a clause in the central contracts of the players whereas if they turn down a county contract they will be compensated for it by the board."
    
Asif and Umar Gul were given special compensation earlier this year after they were not allowed to accept county contracts.
    
But once again Asif has been offered a contract by Surrey for 2008 and 2009 and Gul by Worcestershire for next year.