Islamabad: Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir will be out for four months after a successful knee operation in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The operation was carried out by Dr. David Young, the Pakistan Cricket Board said. Young has also previously treated Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Saeed Anwar.

Tanvir hurt his knee last November during a Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Dubai.

It cost him a contract with Victoria in the Australian Twenty20 league, and forced him to miss Pakistan's tour of New Zealand and Australia. He'll also miss the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, and possibly the tour of England starting in July.

Tanvir has played two tests, both against India in 2007, and took five wickets. He has also competed in 31 one-day internationals (44 wickets) and 15 Twenty20s (11 wickets).