Mohammad Irfan may have to undergo hip surgery

Karachi: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan may have to undergo a surgery for hip injury if he fails to show any progress from his ongoing rehabilitation program in the next two weeks, PCB doctors said.

"There are two fractures in his Ischium bone. We are monitoring his progress closely but if he fails to show any progress in two week's time he will require hip surgery in Australia," PCB doctor Sohail Saleem said.

"The problem is that since he is very tall and his bones are bigger it is taking him time to recover from his hip injury," he said. Irfan, towering at seven-feet-one-inches, is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore nursing the injury sustained during a T20 match against South Africa in November.

The 31-year-old, who was ruled out of action for a month, made a comeback in domestic cricket where he aggravated his injury. Irfan missed out on the South African tour and the home-series against Sri Lanka as he underwent an extensive rehabilitation, hoping to re-gain fitness for the Asia Cup and World T20 in Bangladesh.

Saleem said Irfan's reports would soon be sent to Australia to get a second opinion as well. "He is an important member of the team and we need to get him back to full fitness soon for international cricket," he said.

Meanwhile, Irfan said he was determined to make a comeback to the national side. "It is frustrating to miss two important events but I am working hard to get back to full fitness. I know my height is both an advantage and disadvantage at times but I am hoping to be fit in three months time," Irfan said.

Irfan has played four Tests, 27 one-day internationals and seven T20s.