County news

Mushtaq faces second operation

Cricinfo staff

July 4, 2008

Mushtaq Ahmed is to undergo a second knee operation after suffering fresh cartilage damage during the Championship match against Lancashire and is a doubt for the rest of the season.

He was clearly struggling after a long first-innings bowl and didn't take the field when Sussex tried to defend 107. His previous surgery took place in May and kept him out of the Twenty20 Cup, but the club had been hopeful the problem was sorted. Now, though, he faces another period on the sidelines although the duration is still unclear

"Sussex have been told that there are two most likely scenarios. Worst case is that the tear is extensive and precariously placed, this would mean that Mushtaq would be out for the summer," the club said. "The second scenario is that the tear is a new but minor one, meaning that Mushtaq would be back in time for the County Championship game against Lancashire at Old Trafford on August 6."

The best-case scenario has Mushtaq missing two Championship matches, against Hampshire and Somerset, plus the start of the Pro40 tournament. But if the surgery shows a more severe problem, it increases the likelihood that Mushtaq Ahmed could decide to end his career, after hinting earlier in the season that this might his last year.

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