Freddie to go under knife, Champions Trophy participation in doubt

London, July 23 (UNI) Andrew Flintoff will miss the rest of the Pakistan series and his Champions Trophy participation hangs in balance as the charismatic allrounder undergoes a further surgery on his ailing left ankle.

Flintoff, who saw a specialist yesterday, will be operated upon early next week and the rehabilitation and recovery is expected to take another 12 weeks thus making it a race against the time for him to be in shape before the ICC Champions Trophy.

The tournament begins in India exactly in 12 weeks' time and is followed by the Ashes series down under.

Earlier, the Lancashire sensation appeared to be recuperating from the injury but he experienced a discomfort on the final day of a match against Kent.

''An operation is scheduled for early next week and his rehabilitation and return to full fitness is anticipated to be in the region of 12 weeks,'' said the ECB medical team in a statement yesterday.

The surgery means Andrew Stauss will go for toss with Inzamam-ul Haq for the second Test at the Old Trafford next week.

The England team resembles a hospital ward as Flintoff is the third key player from the Ashes winning side to undergo surgery after Captain Michael Vaughan, Ashley Giles.

Reverse swing exponent Simon Jones, who is suffering from a string of knee and ankle problems, is another doubtful starter for the Ashes.

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