Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Saturday took a giant stride in his bid to return to the Pakistan team when he impressed the national selectors in a practice game played here. The controversial paceman braved hot and humid conditions to bowl nine overs in the match, picking up two wickets in the day-night match, arranged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to judge the form and fitness of the national cricketers.
The selectors are to name Pakistan's 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy on Monday (August 11) after witnessing another practice match to be played on Sunday. A selector told newsmen that Shoaib Akhtar looked a bit rusty in his first spell, but gained fine rhythm in the next spell. "He got better with each over and that is a good sign," said the selector.
The spotlight was on Shoaib in the practice game, which was shifted to Multan from Lahore where seasonal rains washed away the opening match that was supposed to be played on August 5. In spite of soaring temperatures, he did not disappoint and bowled with a lot of pace. Shoaib has not played for Pakistan since featuring in their third Test against India in Bangalore last December.Umar Gul, the other Pakistani pacer with a question mark on his fitness, did not play in the match.
Young fast bowler Abdul Rauf and rookie spinner Saeed Ajmal also picked up two wickets apiece in the match that was contested by teams formed by 27 of the 30 members of Pakistan's preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy.
SHOAIB MALIK Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket team captain Shoaib Malik said that his team would definitely feel the absence of ace batsman Muhammad Yousuf in the Champions Trophy. Other senior players would fill the gap with their performance to win the forthcoming competition, featuring the best cricket playing nations, he hoped.
Shoaib said that Pakistan would have home advantage in the Champions Trophy, and added that his boys would put their energies and skills to win the event. He said that Umar Gul had recovered from injury, but doctors would be consulted before he was allowed to bowl in the practice matches. He refused to comment on Muhammad Asif's dope case, simply saying: "I cannot say anything before announcement of B-sample result."
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