Bone scan suggests Shoaib may have been injured

The medical commission which performed tests on Shoaib Akhtar earlier this week suggested that he had been suffering from stress to his lower rib cage during the third Test against India at Rawalpindi.

Akhtar, who was accused of feigning injury and not bowling for nearly half of India's innings, was in heated mood when he addressed the media after the findings were released. The News quoted him as saying, "I have made my statement and it is for them [PCB] to decide. The injury has since healed, partially, and I have been resting for the past fortnight."

Shoaib went on to talk about how the fitness levels required for batting and bowling were completely different. "You need the whole body to be perfect when you bowl - it is different when you are batting. I am surprised how someone can think I was not badly injured. I have always done justice to my job and given my 110%."

The commission carried out the tests on Wednesday, including a bone scan at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital. According to the scan report, "There is intense increased tracer uptake in the 11th left rib posteriorly going towards the lateral side of the chest. Rest of the scan is within normal limits. Result is suggestive of local pathology involving 11th left rib posteriorly and laterally in view of patient's history. This appears to be due to persistent stress."

The final report will be released later on Friday.