LAHORE, Jan 30: After giving a flat performance in the One-day International series against Sri Lanka recently, eccentric fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar faced yet another setback of his up-and-down career on Friday when he was ruled out of the Test series against the Islanders due to a knee problem.

Saleem Altaf, Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer, said the scan report of Shoaib’s knees received on Friday suggested an operation was required, therefore, he added, the paceman would not be among the probables for the Sri Lanka Test rubber next month.

“The scan report reveals there are loose bones in Shoaib’s knees which need an operation for removal,” Saleem said.

The PCB official added that Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam had been informed about the report of Shoaib’s scan so that he could make necessary adjustments in his planning for the Sri Lanka series.

Shoaib, who has featured in 140 ODIs so far, would need at least a month to fully recover after the operation, therefore, Saleem revealed, the 46-Test pace bowler had no chance of playing the Sri Lanka series.

Shoaib, probably for the first time in his career, was dropped due to his ordinary performance for the series-deciding last One-day International against Sri Lanka in Lahore where Pakistan lost by 234 runs — their heaviest ever ODI defeat in terms of runs.

On various occasions during his international career that started with the Rawalpindi Test against the West Indies in November 1997, the 33-year-old Shoaib was not selected in the national squad, with fitness or discipline being the chief reason.

Furthermore, sources told Dawn another operation may put a big question mark on Shoaib’s future as a cricketer.

Meanwhile, Saleem said while a small change had been made in Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan, it had been decided not to hold trial matches to pick the team, saying it could have totally disturbed smooth flow of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

Though the Sri Lankans will return to Pakistan for the Test series on the scheduled date of Feb 14, the three-day practice match in Karachi had been cut to two-days.

The first Test begins in Karachi from Feb 21 instead of Feb 22 and the second in Lahore from March 1 instead of March 2.

The probables will assemble in Karachi on Feb 8 for a short training camp before the start of the series.

Sri Lanka had completed the first phase by winning the three ODI series 2-1.

AFP adds: About Shoaib’s injury, Intikhab said: “There are loose bones in his knee which would need keyhole surgery. That will take two to three weeks’ recovery and that means he is out of the Sri Lanka Test series.”

He added that such injures were common for fast bowlers. “When such an injury occurs one must not wait and have a quick operation.”