Sami to undergo heel surgery

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April 20, 2005 15:34 IST

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami would undergo surgery soon but was expected to recover in time for the month-long tour of the West Indies starting in May.

Sami, who spearheaded Pakistan pace attack in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar in the just-concluded Test as well as one-day series, developed a corn in his right heel that forced him to skip the last two one-dayers.

Specialists believe hard grounds and landing areas on which he has recently played and bowled were the causes of the corn that is said to be about two inches in radius.

"I will take the specialist's final opinion later in the day and will make up my mind by tomorrow when I should get my heel operated. I have been told that I will recover in two weeks," said Sami, who has taken 102 one-day and 58 Test wickets.

The Pakistan cricket team will leave for West Indies on May 7 during which it will play three one-dayers at St Vincent (May 18) and St Lucia (May 21 and 22) while the two Tests will be played at Barbados (May 26-30) and Jamaica (June 3-7).

"I might have started developing the corn on the Australian tour but I felt real pain during the second Test (at Kolkata). I managed somehow because we didn't have the (fast) bowling attack but by the time I reached Ahmedabad (for the fourth one-dayer), it was unbearable," Sami said.

"I use extra padding in my shoes but probably the landing areas were harder that kept hurting my heel that eventually led to this situation," Sami, who took 10 wickets in the Test series and four wickets in as many one-dayers, said.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq appreciated Sami's effort saying: "This was the commitment level of the players that brought success to the team."

Sami said the Indian tour had been a huge learning experience for him.

"I mean spearheading the pace attack with all the responsibility on your shoulders, it was something I had never experienced. I didn't do as well as I am capable of but I would not blame the pitches or dropped catches for my not so impressive performance.

"But I am excited and proud to be part of this Pakistan cricket team. We are a closely knit family and I think that was the secret to our success," Sami said.

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