KARACHI, Feb 27: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will undergo knee surgery in Melbourne on Tuesday, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said. “The specialist will carry out orthoscopic surgery to remove floating bodies in both his knees. It is a clean up,” the PCB’s director of cricket operations Saleem Altaf said on Monday.

“Shoaib is also suffering from a degenerative arthritis related problem, for which another surgery might be required.

“The specialists say Shoaib will require a minimum six to eight weeks to recover from the operation. After which he can resume training.”

Shoaib, 30, who has taken 165 Test and 199 one-day wickets, 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.

Pakistan is desperate to have the fast bowler fully fit for the tour of England from late June where they play four Tests and five one-dayers.

Saleem also said pacer Shabbir Ahmed, who received a 12-month ban from the ICC for having an illegal bowling action, was working to correct the problem.

“Shabbir has resumed work on his action under the supervision of ex-Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz in Lahore. We are hoping his action will be modified and improve after this rehabilitation period,” Saleem said.—Reuters