June 18 Tuesday 2002
Inzamam to undergo knee surgery in Australia

KARACHI: Pakistan's premier batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq will undergo a knee operation in Melbourne on June 21 after Pakistan ends its three-match one-day series with Australia.

The touring team management is still uncertain on whether to play Inzamam, who is struggling with knee and sole injuries, in Wednesday's decisive third one-dayer in Brisbane.

But with the series depending on the outcome of the last match, chances are Inzamam will play with the help of painkillers.

What is confirmed is that Inzamam has been advised immediate knee surgery after the series to set things right and has been given an appointment for June 21 by a specialist in Melbourne.

Inzamam was given the surgery date after consulting a specialist in Melbourne after the second one-dayer which Pakistan won but in which the burly batsman struggled throughout with his knee.

It is learnt that Inzamam will now remain in Melbourne till June 25 with team doctor Mohammad Riaz, while the remaining members of the team will return home on June 21.

Sources said Inzamam had been struggling with his knee and sole problems for some time now but could not get them properly attended to due to Pakistan's hectic international schedule.

In Australia, however, he complained of increasing pain and discomfort while batting after which his problem was shown to specialists.

Team manager Yawar Saeed then spoke to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Lt General Tauqir Zia who gave his approval for Inzamam to stay back and have the knee surgery.

Inzamam who last month cracked a career-best 329 runs in the Test match against New Zealand is presently fourth in the all-time highest scorers list in One-day International cricket and is rated as one of the top five batsmen in the world.

In the past Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar has also struggled with knee problems and two years back had orthoscopic surgery in England to set things right.