Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir may soon join squad in India
MOHALI: Pakistan’s pace attack is expected to be reinforced in India soon with bright chances of Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed joining the team after having made a good recovery from contrasting injuries.
Pakistan team manager Saleem Altaf confirmed on Wednesday that while Shabbir had resumed bowling and was certain to join the team for the One-day Internationals, the progress report on Shoaib was also very encouraging.
“I am keeping a regular tab on Shoaib’s progress in Lahore. The report is that his hamstring strain has healed up and now the only thing remaining is that he passes a proper fitness test before he can be cleared to join the team,” Altaf said.
Asked if there was any possibility of Shoaib joining the team during the Test series, Altaf said the chance was there. “Who would not like the team’s main strike bowler to be available for the later Tests if he is fit? I am in touch with the board and the reports on his fitness are encouraging.”
Shoaib pulled out of the tour because of his hamstring injury that also forced him to return home from Australia while Shabbir has been struggling with a knee problem on which he had an operation in South Africa since last September.
Asked if the team management was mentally prepared for Shoaib’s recall, Altaf said who would not like their most experienced bowler to be available as soon as possible. “But in the end it is up to the selectors and the board to see when he is 100 per cent fit to join the team.”
The former Test pacer said that as far as Shabbir was concerned he had resumed playing and the selectors felt he should be available for the one-dayers.
The Pakistan manager was also very candid when asked about the reported cold relations between Shoaib and the captain and coach saying he had had a talk with Shoaib and was also talking to Inzamam.
“It is not such a big issue I think. Things can be sorted out. There is no major problem between them and if Shoaib is available and fit than he naturally would be required by the team,” he added.
It is no secret that the team captain and coach were not very keen to have Shoaib in the team for the Indian tour and that the fast bowler himself blamed them for trying to make him the scapegoat for the defeats in Australia.
Shoaib also had problems with the board having to face a disciplinary committee and being fined 500 dollars for violating his central contract with the board.
But since the team left for India, he has been training regularly with South African Grant Compton in Lahore and Altaf said he appeared keen to join the team.
Shoaib, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed formed an effective pace attack until the injury to Shabbir and then the problems between Shoaib and the management.
To make matters worse for Pakistan, promising young pacer Umar Gul has also been out of action since last year with a stress fracture in the back.
Shoaib is Pakistan’s most experienced bowler with 144 Test and 186 one-day wickets and his absence was clearly felt on Wednesday when India started their second innings with the available bowlers being belted all over the park. —From Waheed Khan
Its from a Pakistani paper, so I dont know how much stock I would put in it. But still, it is encouracing. Even if they are back for the ODI’s it helps our team a lot.
why can’t Shabir come too? There is an ICC rule that he CAN.
:k: , chup kerkay match daikhna
