Mohammad Hafeez's still out with knee injury

Karachi: Senior Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez could miss the Test series in England in July-August as the condition of his nagging knee injury has not improved due to lack of proper treatment, according to sources.

The all-rounder, who has played 47 Tests and 175 ODIs, flew down here today for a fresh MRI scan of his knee and the results were not positive at all for him.

A source in the Board said the MRI scans had shown that the condition of his knee has not improved although he has been getting treatment for it since April at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Hafeez missed out on the last two games of the World T20 in India earlier this year due to the knee problem.

Hafeez, who already had to miss a three week long boot camp in Kakul and is also out of the skills camp underway in Lahore, contacted a Pakistan-born doctor Zafar Iqbal who has worked in the UK.

The doctor, who also works with the Crystal Palace football club, advised Hafeez to first get a fresh MRI at a private hospital.

The source said the PCB had yet to find a proper replacement for the long serving medical manager Dr Sohail Saleem who had resigned after the World T20.

"The scenario is that Hafeez's injury might have worsened as valuable time has been lost. He has now asked the cricket board to send him to England for Dr Iqbal to start his treatment," the source said.

Hafeez has been named in a shortlist of 21 probables by the national selection committee for the England tour but subject to his fitness.

The source said surgery on his knee has not been ruled out which could mean Hafeez missing the entire series in England.

"I want to play cricket as soon as possible. This injury has not disheartened me," Hafeez said.