Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 due to a skin infection in his groin, a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said on Thursday.
"The medical panel of the board has examined Shoaib and he has been advised 10-12 days rest for a skin infection," the spokesman said.
"The medical panel will re-examine him in the first week of June. In the meantime the team management has requested a replacement," he said.
Fast bowler Rao Iftikhar is likely to replace Shoaib who did not attend a week-long conditioning camp held in Bhurban, a hill resort near Islamabad, last week.
Shoaib, 33, has played just six one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game since December 2007 because of fitness and disciplinary issues.