Umar Gul's knee surgery in Australia successful

Pakistan's most successful pace bowler in the current team, Umar Gul has had a successful knee surgery in Australia.

An official source in the Pakistan Cricket Board said that Dr David Young, a well-known orthopaedic surgeon who has a lot of experience in treating sportsmen, had performed the surgery.

"Gul is well and in high spirits but he has been told he can only began light exercises after two weeks and it could take him four to six weeks to make a complete recovery," the source said.

Gul, 29, who is Pakistan's most experienced bowler in the current team having taken 163 Test and 161 One-day wickets, was ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to his knee problem.

Gul had complained of pain and swelling in his right knee while touring South Africa with the team early this year and was forced to miss a Test and three ODIs due to his problem.

After returning home the board decided to send him to Australia for surgery as Young had also performed a similar operation on Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir.

"Gul's surgery being successful is good news because without proper treatment and attention it threatened his career," another source close to the bowler said.

Gul still remains a doubtful starter for Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe in July.