LAHORE, Feb 13: Confusion and uncertainty prevailed over the availability of pace man Shoaib Akhtar for the forthcoming tour of India starting from Feb 25.

Shoaib had been instructed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play the second round match of the ongoing Patron's Trophy against Habib Bank, starting from Monday to prove his fitness for selection to the team to be brought together on Feb 18.

However, Shoaib who has to appear for his departmental team KRL said on Sunday that he was not fit and would not play the match. "I am still facing problems due to hamstring and I have also informed the PCB and the national selection committee of my decision of not playing in the trophy," Shoaib said when contacted.

The inquiry report has not been made public yet. When contacted chief selector Wasim Bari confirmed that Shoaib had informed him by phone about his decision. "Yes, he rang me up saying he was not fit, but I told him that I want a fit and fighting Shoaib for the India tour and it would have been better if he had played for KRL," Bari told Dawn.

Asked as the team of medical experts of the Pakistan side was scheduled to return here by Friday, (the same day the selection committee meets) after holidays and except the second round of trophy there was no other way to examine the Shoaib's fitness level, how then the player would be considered for the selection, Bari said "It is not my job.

I have informed the board to provide me proper medical reports about four unfit pace men namely Shoaib, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Khalil and Shabbir Ahmed". Bari said that the PCB had formed a medical commission comprising local experts and Shoaib should have appeared before it.

Bari was tight-lipped when informed that the commission had called Shoaib but he failed to appear before it without citing any reason. He further said that the PCB had to provide him the reports of both coach and manager of the team which toured Australia before the meeting.

"All these documents are essential for the guidance of the selection committee," he said. Asked if the report of inquiry committee probing Shoaib was also necessary, Bari said though that was not his department but a copy should be sent to the selection committee for more information about the player.