Shoaib expresses World Cup worry

Shoaib has 208 wickets from 133 one-day internationals

Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar fears he could miss the World Cup, saying his knee injury could take four more weeks to heal.

Doctors have advised Akhtar to have scans to reveal the extent of the injury to the left knee.

"I am devastated at the thought of missing the World Cup," said Shoaib, with the opening game on 13 March.

"I hope this injury is not worse and I am able to play some part in Pakistan's cup campaign."

If scans reveal a serious injury then Akhtar will have to fly to Australia for an operation, which would effectively rule him out of the tournament.

Pakistan are also without key pacemen Umar Gul (ankle), Shabbir Ahmed (hamstring) and Mohammad Sami (back).

They have to name their 15-man World Cup squad on Monday or Tuesday after the International Cricket Council their request for an extension to the 13 February.

Shoaib, one of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, has 208 wickets from 133 one-day internationals.

He was given a two-year ban last November after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone but a Pakistan Cricket Board appeals tribunal cleared him of doping offences.