KARACHI, Feb 16 Injury-prone Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar said on Monday he hoped to recover from a knee injury and return to action in time for next months tour of Bangladesh.

The 33-year-old fast bowler was ruled out of Pakistans two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting later this week, due to the injury.

Initial reports suggested he would need an operation but Shoaib expressed hope that the injury would heal with rest.

“Doctors have advised me that the blood and pieces of bones in my knee could be removed through injections and there wont be any need for an operation,” Shoaib said.

Shoaib had both knees operated on in early 2006. It was feared that he would miss most of this year if he went back under the knife. But the fast bowler said he had been reassured about his condition after a medical update.

“I sent the MRI reports to Australia and England, and the advice was not to have an operation, so I hope to be back in action by next month,” said Shoaib, who was dropped from the third One-day International against Sri Lanka last month after managing just one wicket for 88 runs in the first two matches in Karachi.

The controversial paceman played just three Twenty20 matches last year due to injuries and a ban on discipline charges.

He returned to the team for Pakistans three-match one-day series against the West Indies in November last year.

But he sat out the entire series, played in Abu Dhabi, after he hurt his hamstring on the eve of the first match.

Pakistan are due to play two Twenty20 Internationals and five One-day Internationals in Bangladesh in March.—AFP