Medical advice rules Shoaib out

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club today announced that Shoaib Akhtar has been released from his contract for the 2000 season due to a recurrence of a rib injury.

When Shoaib arrived in Nottingham following Pakistan¹s tour to the West Indies he underwent a full medical and it was reported that he had rib-tip syndrome which it was anticipated would take 10 days to heal. It was, however, reported that there was no evidence of any long-term injury.

The injury did not respond to treatment as quickly as had been hoped, and as medical opinion had anticipated. When he was not fit enough to play against Worcestershire this week, further investigations were undertaken and an unusual rib-tip syndrome was diagnosed.

On June 9 it was diagnosed that a reaction was being caused by the rib impacting on the pelvis during Shoaib¹s bowling action.

In order to provide both a short and long term solution not only is rest required to enable the condition to settle but also, to prevent reoccurrence, some work may be required with Shoaib's bowling action to prevent the condition from perpetuating and possibly worsening.

Under the circumstances, with only three months remaining in the season, Nottinghamshire and Shoaib have agreed that a replacement overseas player will be sought. Shoaib has been offered the opportunity to stay at Trent Bridge for the remainder of the season to rehabilitate and work with the team.

Nottinghamshire's Cricket Manager Clive Rice commented: "This news is devastating both for the Club and for Shoaib. Since he arrived 10 days ago he has proved to be a very popular member of our squad and I know that our supporters will be very disappointed that the injury will prevent him from playing.

"We have already taken steps to find a replacement subject to the agreement of the ECB. The International Programme has altered since we reviewed the position earlier this year and we are taking the revised programme into consideration in our discussions with a replacement overseas player."