LAHORE, Feb 14: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of next month’s tour of Sri Lanka with an ankle injury, officials said on Tuesday.

“A stress fracture has revealed on his left ankle which requires six to seven weeks rest, so he is out of the Sri Lankan tour,” Pakistan Cricket Board director of operations Saleem Altaf said.

The 30-year-old fast bowler took 17 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-0 Test series win over England in December but the injury flared up during the recently-ended Test series against India.

He was forced to miss the first two one-day matches against India before being ruled of the rest of the limited overs internationals on Sunday.

Pakistan play two Tests and three one-day matches on their tour of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan are scheduled to play four Tests and five one-day matches on their tour of England starting from early July this year.—AFP

Our Sports Correspondent adds: All-rounder Shahid Afridi has been released from the Pakistan team while paceman Mohammad Sami has been recalled in place of Shoaib Akhtar for the remaining two ODIs against India. Afridi has been ruled out for the remaining two matches (Multan and Karachi) due to rib injury but the national selection committee had kept his name in the 16-member squad announced on Tuesday.

Incidentally the chairman PCB had given his approval of keeping the injured Afridi in the squad. “Chairman PCB has accepted the selection committee’s recommendation (for 16 members squad),” the press statement stated while announcing the team.

However, later, the PCB sent another press release in the evening, stating Afridi had been released due to his injury, reducing the number of players to 15 from 16.

Sami was inducted in place of Shoaib Akhtar, who is unfit due to an ankle injury which forced him to miss all the five ODIs matches.

Sami was not considered for the ODIs series against India due to his poor form in the Test series. But Shoaib’s fitness problems paved the way for his inclusion in the squad.

Squad:

Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Arshad Khan, Salman Butt, Rana Navedul Hasan, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Yasir Arafat.