Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif underwent an elbow surgery in Sydney, the country’s cricket chief Nasim Ashraf said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman told that Asif had a corrective surgery for a nagging elbow injury, adding that he is awaiting the details of the operation. “Asif had a surgery in Australia ” he said. “We are expecting to get the details on the operation from his doctor after which it would be known how much time the player will need to recover,” he said.

The PCB sent the lanky pacer to Australia to consult specialists after he missed the important tour of India because of the chronic elbow injury. An Australian specialist recommended surgery on Asif’s problematic elbow last week.

 “Asif is one of our key players and we want him to get fit as soon as possible,” said Ashraf. In 2006, Asif, who has played 11 Tests for 51 wickets, emerged as one of Pakistan’s main strike bowlers. But his elbow problem has kept him out of action every now and then.

He missed three Tests in England last summer and four One-day Internationals against South Africa at home in October this year before the injury forced him out of the India series. The Pakistanis have struggled in India and the absence of Asif is seen as one of the main reasons for their disappointing show during the tour. They are now hoping that Asif will be fully fit ahead of the home series against Australia in March-April.