Shoaib consulting specialists in SA
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Pakistan’s enigmatic speedster Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that he had stayed back in Johannesburg with the permission of the Pakistan team management to consult specialists about his sore knee problem.
His brother gave out a statement from Rawalpindi on Sunday on behalf of Shoaib Akhtar who it appears has been hurt with media reports that he had stayed back in South Africa without informing the management or cricket board.
“He is upset with reports that he had disappeared after being released from the team in Cape Town and that he had gone to Durban,” his brother said.
“And also that he had missed his flight back to Pakistan.”
Shoaib’s statement says that, in fact, he flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg after getting the team manager’s permission where he is consulting specialists about his knee injury.
“After getting the opinion of the specialists and having his injury examined, he will fly back to Pakistan in next three days,” his brother said.
Shoaib, who has a knack for raking up controversies, was released from the team after the fifth One-day International in Cape Town to fly back home and get treatment for his sore knees from the medical panel of the Pakistan board.
However, while Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif and Misbahul Haq returned home on Saturday, there was no sign of Shoaib and the PCB Chairman Lt. General Tauqir Zia gave out instructions to the team management to locate him and send him back on the first available flight.
“The General is concerned is that he returns home as soon as possible and start his rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the medical panel so that he is fit in time for the World Cup,” a board source stated.
Shoaib has conveyed that he will bring the reports of the specialists in Johannesburg with him and get a second opinion from the Pakistan Cricket Board medical panel.
The Pakistan team returns home after the two-Test series on January 8 and then flies out again on January 24 for the World Cup.
Shoaib has taken 42 wickets in One-dayers this year and another 31 in Tests.
