Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss the Test series against Sri Lanka next month because of a knee injury.
"Shoaib has informed us that he has an inflamed knee which requires surgery early next month," Pakistan team coach Intikhab Alam said.
Alam said Shoaib would need at least three weeks to recover from the surgery, ruling the 33-year-old out of the two home Tests being played between February 23 and March 6.