Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif is a doubt for next week's one-day matches against South Africa, an official said Thursday.

"Asif had pain in his elbow and the scans show he has inflammation in his elbow and the doctor has advised a week's rest," team manager Talat Al said.

"He should be okay but it will depend on his progress," he told reporters.

Pakistan play South Africa in five one-day internationals which follow the two-Test series that Pakistan trails 1-0.

The first two one-dayers are scheduled here on October 18 and 20.

The remaining matches will be held in Faisalabad on October 23, Multan three days later and Karachi on October 29.

The 23-year-old Asif has been plagued by an elbow injury since Pakistan's tour of England last year.

He felt pain after bowling 34 overs in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Lahore and managed just four in the second innings.

Pakistan will be hard-pressed to defeat the tourists if Asif fails to recover in time as fellow front-line paceman Shoaib Akhtar faces disciplinary action.

Akhtar was expelled from the team after he hit Asif with a bat in South Africa last month and is considered unlikely to be reinstated to play next week.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)