Akhtar eyes Bangladesh series return

Injury-prone Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar said Monday he hoped to recover from a knee injury and return to action in time for next month's tour of Bangladesh.

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

Initial reports suggested he would need an operation but Akhtar 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 won't be any need for an operation," Akhtar told AFP.

Akhtar 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 Akhtar 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 Akhtar, who was dropped from the third one-day international against Sri Lanka last month.

Akhtar managed just one wicket for 88 runs in the first two matches.

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 Pakistan's 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 fixtures and five one-day matches in Bangladesh in March.

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