Medical Commission say Shoiab, Asif unfit; pave way for Sami, Yasir

Lahore, Mar 6 (UNI) In yet another deperate damage control excercise, the PCB Medical Commission has hurriedly informed the ICC that fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ''indeed'' injured and their replacements Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat be allowed to represent the country in the World Cup.

The commission in its detailed report said Shoaib and Asif each need further rest of three weeks.

The report was a mandatory requirement in order to get ICC approval for the replacement of the injured pacers by Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat.

A press release issued late last evening by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, ''Dr Sohail Saleem (Coordinator, PCB Medical Commission) in consultation with Dr Waqar Farooqi (Orthopedic Surgeon) and Dr Zia Farooqi (Radiologist) have sent their report to the ICC on the injury status of Shoaib and Asif.

Commenting on Shoaib's knee injury, the commission stated in its report that, ''Medical Commission examined Shoaib Akhtar on January 29, 2007 for his left hamstring injury and advised him three weeks of rehabilitation.'' ''On examination this afternoon, Shoaib had some tenderness over the medial joint line of left knee. Extreme knee extension as well as flexion were painful. Functional test such as hopping on one leg was extremely painful and he had some discomfort in the region of left hamstrings when stressed.'' ''In view of above findings, we recommend that he should continue with the supervised rehabilitation programme.

However, he is not allowed to bowl unless he is re-examined by the commission in three weeks time,'' it said.

''Mohammad Asif had some tenderness over the lateral attachment of right triceps muscle in the olecranon. The last 10 degrees of flexion as well as extension were restricted because of pain. However, he had full range of supination and pronation.

''MRI revealed some local bone edema and sclerosis in the olecranon at the insertion of triceps. Minimal fluid is present in the joint cavity as well.

''In view of above findings, we recommend Mohammad Asif to give rest to the right elbow for three weeks initially.

He was advised not to use his right arm for lifting anything or even driving. However, he may perform activities of daily living,'' the report concluded.

Sami is likely to leave for the West Indies immediately as he has cleared the dope test. However, Yasir's departure could be delayed due to his dope test report which is yet to come from Malaysia.

Sami, in fact, had cleared the dope test when the urine samples of 20 players were sent to Malaysia in the first batch. But, the sample of Yasir was sent on March 1 when he was selected as replacement for injured Asif.

According to media reports, the delay in medical commission report was caused by the fact that Shoaib and Asif had failed to get their medical reports from the doctors in England from whom they had been getting the treatment. This also fuelled growing speculations regarding the two fast bowlers' dope-clearance on the nandrolone level which many feel is the real cause behind their withdrawal from the mega event in the Caribbean.

UNI