Pakistan's Akhtar out of Afro-Asia Cup by AFP

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Player:

Shoaib Akhtar

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DateLine: 22nd May 2007

 

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar will not feature in next month's Afro-Asia Cup one-day series because he is still injured, a selector said Tuesday.

 

The fiery paceman has suffered problems with his knee and ankle for more than a year and is not ready for the games in the Indian cities of Bangalore and Chennai.

 

"We have conveyed to the Asian Cricket Council that Akhtar is not able to play as a question mark still hangs over his fitness," Mohsin Khan, selector for the Asian team, told AFP.

 

"I got feedback from very reliable Pakistan Cricket Board officials so for the betterment of Pakistan cricket I had to take this decision as Pakistan will need Akhtar in their future series," said Khan.

 

A replacement will be announced soon, he said.

 

Akhtar has featured in only one Test this year. He managed to bowl just 12 overs in Pakistan's win at Port Elizabeth, South Africa during their three-match series in January before he broke down again.

 

The 32-year-old paceman injured his knee and ankle in January last year and had to undergo twin knee operations in Australia.

 

Akhtar and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif were involved in a doping scandal after both tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October last year.

 

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year by a PCB doping commission in November. However, a month later their bans were controversially lifted on appeals.

 

They were pulled out of Pakistan's World Cup squad on fitness grounds in March this year after being named in the 15-man squad.

 

Asif recovered in time for Pakistan's ongoing three-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi but Pakistani selectors did not consider Akhtar, again because of his injuries.

 

Akhtar, who is currently working under former bowling great Wasim Akram in Lahore, last week said he was keen to feature in the Afro-Asia series.

 

A Twenty20 match in Bangalore on June 5 will precede the three one-day internationals to be played in Bangalore on June 6 and Chennai on June 9 and 10.

 

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene will lead the Asian XI while South African captain Graeme Smith will lead the African team, also including players from Zimbabwe and Kenya.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)