11 February 2005	Friday	01 Muharram 1426

LAHORE, Feb 10: Paceman Shoaib Akhtar did not appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed doctor who examined the fitness of three other bowlers - Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Khalil - ahead of the team's tour of India.

Meesaq Rizvi, sports physician, who has been included in the PCB Medical Commission as visiting member called the four bowlers for the fitness test on Thursday.

The Indian tour, for which the itinerary is yet to be decided, is scheduled to start from Feb 25. But the team is looking depleted because of fitness problems with four bowlers.

Shoaib, who is already facing an inquiry for allegedly breaching the central contract during Australian tour, is suffering from hamstring and his non-appearance before the doctor might increase PCB's allegation against him.

Shoaib, however, appeared before the inquiry committee on Thursday to explain his position about the charges levelled on him by the PCB.

Shoaib's private doctor Tauseef Razzaq, who had examined the bowler (Shoaib) soon after he came back from Australia due to fitness problem, had reportedly said the paceman needed four weeks to recover, making his availability for the tour doubtful. However, Sami, who was suffering from heel's injury had been given a fitness certificate.

Shabbir needed three more weeks to be fully ready for the international cricket. Shabbir, who was operated upon his knee in South Africa in September last started bowling from Monday.

Khalil, has, however been instructed to again appear on Friday before the Medical Board comprising Meesaq and Dr Sohail Saleem.