LONDON, Aug 7: The world’s fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been allowed to miss Pakistan’s third Test and one-day cricket series against Bangladesh to complete English county season with Durham.

Shoaib was originally excused from the entire home series but an ankle injury to Mohammad Sami saw PCB recall him for the Test matches.

Shoaib will now miss just three one-day National League matches, a fillip for the county, who are pushing for promotion from County Championship Division Two.

He will take part in the Championship match against Glamorgan, fly home in time for the back-to-back Tests in Karachi and Peshawar and return to take on Northants from Sept 3.

“The news of Shoaib’s recall is obviously very disappointing,” said Durham chief executive David Harker.

“However we are grateful to the PCB for agreeing to let Shoaib return early”.

The world’s fastest bowler has already taken 21 wickets in four matches for Durham, and has also claimed 13 victims in five one-day matches.

Durham are unable to sign a replacement player as they have already reached a quota of four over the course of the season.

Batsman Martin Love has returned from Test duty with Australia but Javagal Srinath has returned to India and Dewald Pretorius is involved in South Africa’s tour of England.—PPI