07 August,2009 01:51 PM IST | | AFP
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been forced out of next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa after undergoing shoulder surgery, officials said on Friday.
The 30-year-old underwent surgery in Johannesburg in July after injuring his left shoulder while playing for Mumbai Indians during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament in April-May.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement that the left-arm paceman could be out of action till the end of the year.
"Zaheer had an arthroscopic labral repair in his left shoulder on July 13 done by the Johannesburg-based Dr. Mark Ferguson," the statement said.
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"He is undergoing rehabilitation in South Africa and is recovering very well. He is expected to return to international cricket by the end of this year."
Zaheer will miss the limited overs tri-series against New Zealand and hosts Sri Lanka from September 8-14 which precedes the Champions Trophy in South Africa from Sept 22-October 5.
He will also sit out the seven one-day internationals against Australia at home in October-November and remains a doubtful starter for the Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka at home in November-December.
Zaheer took part in the World Twenty20 in England in June despite the injury, but missed the subsequent one-day series in the West Indies in early July.
Teammate Virender Sehwag and the English duo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are the other notable players who suffered or aggravated existing injuries during the IPL.
