Moin Khan suffers knee injury

Karachi, Feb 29: Wicketkeeper Moin Khan joined the growing casualty list when a knee injury left his participation in the second Test against Sri Lanka in a quandary. The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia, said from Mangla that Moin will have an MRI test on his left leg in Lahore on Thursday morning.

"He has some problem in his knee and has complained about it," the general said, adding: "If required, he will be send abroad because he is too valuable a player and needs proper medical attention."

Moin, when contacted in Rawalpindi, said he was having pain inside the knee cap. "I don't know what actually it is but it is hurting." Moin said the knee had to be warmed in the morning before the knee started functioning properly. "On Monday, it was hurting badly but I am feeling much better now.

"I jogged in the evening and underwent knee exercises without any real pain. As a precaution, I will undergo a MRI test," the wicketkeeper said. He said he was confident that he would play in the second Test. He said he will confirm his availability to the selectors as soon as he gets MRI reports.

Moin added that he would keep wickets on the final day of the first Test. General Tauqir Zia admitted that Moin Khan was one of the candidates for captaincy for the forthcoming series's. "But we now have to first see how fit he is," he said, adding: "Sharjah tournament is still three weeks away and I am sure things would clear by then regarding the availability of Moin."

The general said the advisory council would be meeting in Peshawar on March 5 in which it would officially announce Javed Miandad as coach. "We have almost made up our minds but we will have our final discussion on March 5 before we make the announcement," he said.

He said captain's issue might also be discussed in Peshawar if Moin Khan passes fitness test for the second Test starting in there from March 3.