Genital warts rule Shoaib out of World Twenty20

Shoaib Akhtar has been withdrawn from Pakistan's 15-man squad for next month's World Twenty20 after being diagnosed with genital viral warts.

Rao Iftikhar Anjum's name has been sent to the ICC's technical committee by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a replacement.

The PCB made the announcement in an unusually revealing statement yesterday. It said a three-member medical panel appointed by the PCB had found that Shoaib was suffering from "genital viral warts and electrofulgration [a surgical procedure] was done on May 12, 2009."

The panel added that "his wound though healing needs further care and treatment for another minimum ten days for the purpose of healing and to achieve skin cover. The Medical Board further recommended his re-assessment after 10 days.

"In accordance with the above program his re-assessment will be carried out on 1st week of June, 2009.In view of the above, PCB has requested ICC Technical Committee for the replacement."

Shoaib missed the last World Twenty20 in South Africa when he was sent home after hitting teammate Mohammad Asif in a dressing room altercation.