Zaheer faces lengthy layoff after shoulder op

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Indian strike bowler Zaheer  Khan has been ruled out of action until the end of the year  after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder, the Board of  Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said yesterday.

Zaheer had an arthroscopic labral repair carried out on his  left shoulder in South Africa last month, the BCCI said in a  statement.

“Zaheer 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,” the statement said.

The 30-year-old left-arm bowler suffered the injury while  fielding during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this  year, although he still played in the Twenty20 World Cup in  England in June.

He subsequently missed India’s four-match one-day series in  West Indies.

India’s next assignment is a triangular one-day series  involving hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand from Sept. 8-14,  followed by the Champions Trophy in South Africa from Sept.  22-Oct. 5.