Shoaib out for four to six weeks

The much-awaited results from Shoaib Akhtar's scan on his injured ankle have revealed that his old hairline fracture has still not healed properly. The result means he will be unable to resume bowling for four to six weeks and will almost certainly rule him out of the initial part of Pakistan's tour to England.

"It's a bad week for me. First I lost a close friend and now got a bad news that my injury has not healed although I still feel no pain and can jog for hours," Akhtar told AFP. "But a bad news for me is a good news for the English batsmen. I will do my best to recover in time to at least play two Tests."

"I carried that ankle injury from the series against England but I continued to play. Even after the operations I was feeling well before I twisted the ankle earlier this month."

Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, told Cricinfo that the results of the scan they had sent to specialists in South Africa did not make for good news. "Unfortunately the scans have revealed that though he doesn't have a new injury, the fracture that he sustained during the home series against England and India, has not yet fully healed. He cannot bowl at all for four to six weeks."

Woolmer agreed it was "highly unlikely" that Shoaib would be able to play any part in the first half of the England tour but wasn't willing to comment on whether he would be taken as a member of the squad. "We have a selection meeting later tonight in which we'll discuss the situation and come to a decision after that."

The fact that his old injury still hasn't healed will not sit well with the PCB. After he sat out the ODIs against India and then missed the tour of Sri Lanka, reports suggested that Shoaib was training and recovering with his own trainer rather than PCB-appointed officials, which irked board and team officials. It means, as one source close to the team revealed: "no-one is quite sure what he has been doing to his ankle because given proper rehabilitation, it should've healed comfortably by now. But it hasn't."

The first Test is due to begin at Lord's on July 13, just over five weeks, from now, which means Pakistani fans will now witness, helplessly, the same anguished race against time English football fans are currently experiencing with Wayne Rooney's metatarsal.

Earlier, the PCB had said their own medical commission had advised Shoaib three weeks' rest and that his selection for the tour of England rests on the recommendation of the commission.

Pakistani selectors are scheduled to announce the touring squad in the next day or so. Wasim Bari, chief selector, has said that Shoaib is likely to accompany the squad whether or not he is injured.

He told The News: "It is certainly the most difficult decision that the selection committee will have to take when it meets. I've already met Inzamam and Woolmer recently to take their inputs over the team's selection but recent developments have made it necessary to meet them again."

Bari said the inclusion - or not - of Shoaib will be the main issue of discussion. "There is nothing in writing for us on Shoaib's fitness issue so I can't say what we might opt for in our meeting to select the team.," Bari added. "There is no doubt that Shoaib is a key player for us but then he has to be fit to be able to live up to the expectations. He cannot be included in the team without achievement and proving full match fitness."