Injured Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar should be fit for the upcoming tri-series one-day cricket matches against Australia and the West Indies, captain Inzamamul Haq said on Wednesday. Speaking after Pakistan had beaten Australia 'A' by 13 runs in a warm-up match at Adelaide Oval, Inzamam said he was confident the world's fastest bowler would be able to play.
And he said Shoaib is likely to get his eye in by playing in the first international Twenty20 match to be staged in Australia, between Pakistan and Australia 'A' in Adelaide on Thursday.
Twenty20 matches allow for just 20 overs per side as opposed to the usual 50 overs in a normal limited-overs match.
"Hopefully he is playing tomorrow," Inzamam said. "He is fully better now and hopefully he is playing in the one-day series."
Shoaib suffered back and hamstring strains which have been treated with a series of pain-killing injections.
Pakistan will play their opening tri-series match against Australia in Hobart on Sunday.
The tournament starts with a match between Australia and the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.