Shoaib's injury threatens to wreck Durham's season

A serious rib-cage injury could threaten the rest of Shoaib Akhtar's season with Durham. While he has been advised rest for two weeks to help the stress fracture heal naturally, Shoaib indicated to the Durham team management that they should begin looking for a replacement.

"I have been advised up to two weeks rest right now by the doctors after they had a second bone scan of my injury," Shoaib said, according to The News, a Pakistan daily. "There is a definite stress fracture in my rib on my lower left side. I will have another examination after the rest period and let us see how it goes."

The news of Shoaib's injury would not bring cheer to Durham, who reportedly parted with big money to have him on the team, and whose last game without Shoaib resulted in a 201-run defeat to Glamorgan.

Though sources indicated that Shoaib would, in all likelihood, miss the rest of the season, his official stance was one of hope. "The fracture is there and it is worrying me. I now want to be 100% sure it has healed before I start playing again. I will resume playing after I get clearance from the doctors after the next examination in two weeks time."

The rib injury, which Shoaib sustained during Pakistan's Test series against India, has been a subject of much publicity, with the PCB forming a medical committee to examine if he was indeed injured. Shoaib had broken down while bowling during the third Test at Rawalpindi, and did not bowl again for the rest of the match, but later batted effortlessly, to the distinct disbelief of the team management. But bone scans done later revealed the stress fracture.

The Pakistan board then expressed surprise at Shoaib's eagerness to turn up for Durham, with doubts lingering over whether the injury had healed. Their fears have been confirmed, because if the rib injury is as serious as is believed, Shoaib's participation in the Asia Cup, which begins in July, will be under threat as well.