Malik undergoes surgery

Returning from South Africa after corrective surgery to his elbow, Shoaib Mailk, the Pakistan allrounder, hopes to make it to the team's tour to England beginning July 1.

Malik underwent surgery in Cape Town to improve his bowling action, which had been first declared suspect in October 2004 during the Paktel Cup one-day tournament at home. His doctors in South Africa termed the surgery a success after extracting a `piece of floating bone from his elbow. They were confident that physiotherapy and exercise would help Malik, who complained of pain in his elbow while batting and bowling, recover within four to six weeks.

Malik had been in a car accident in 2003 causing the tendons in his arms to loosen. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claimed that it was because of this accident that his elbow straightens when he bowls.

Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar, recovering from a stress fracture to his heel began bowling at the nets in Lahore. His doctor, Tauseef Razzaq, said that Shoaib will begin full training in a month's time. The PCB expects both bowlers to be fit for the tour to England in July.