December 12, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 1, 1428

KARACHI, Dec 11: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has undergone successful keyhole surgery in Australia to fix a chronic elbow problem that forced him to miss the ongoing series in India.

A Pakistan cricket Board (PCB) official said the surgery was carried out by a well known Australian specialist in Sydney on Monday.

“The initial reports are that it was not a major operation and it has been successful,” Shafqat Naghmi, Chief Operating Officer of the PCB, said on Tuesday.

“But Asif’s recovery could take up to three months before he resumes playing,” Naghmi said, adding that a specialist would soon determine how long the full rehabilitation period will be.

“We fear he would require a three-month rest, which means he is certainly out of next month’s home series against Zimbabwe,” he stated.

Naghmi further said that Asif would also face a race against time to be 100 per cent fit for the home series against Australia tentatively scheduled for March 9.—Reuters