Genital infection forces Shoaib Akhtar out of World Twenty20
Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar looks set to miss next month's World Twenty20 after receiving treatment for a genital infection.
Shoaib was named in the initial 15-man squad for the tournament, which takes place in England from June 5, but the Pakistan Cricket Board today announced they had applied for a replacement to the ICC technical committee.
The 33-year-old bowler, whose participation in the tournament has been in doubt after he struggled for fitness and form during the recent one-day series against Australia, was diagnosed with genital viral warts and underwent a course of electrofulgration treatment - a procedure where electrical current is used to destroy unwanted tissue.
"The medical board has reported that Shoaib Akhtar was suffering from genital viral warts and the wound needs further care and treatment for a minimum 10 days for the purpose of healing and to achieve skin cover," the PCB said in a statement.
A three-man medical team convened by the PCB - consisting of consultant surgeon Prof. Javed Raza Gardezi, dermatologist Dr Ijaz Hussain and PCB doctor Riaz Ahmed - advised that Shoaib could be reassessed on June 1.
The rest of the squad will already be in England by then, with the team's first warm-up match scheduled for the same day, when they will meet South Africa at Trent Bridge.
