LAHORE, March 23: Paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s chances to play in the six One-day International series against India are bleak after the bowler needs two more weeks to get match- fitness.
Chief selector Wasim Bari told Dawn that PCB’s trainer Grant Compton had told him that though Shoaib had been recovering satisfactorily but he needed at least two more weeks to become match fit.
“I can not rule out Shoaib for the entire One-day series, but it is not fair to give a chance to a player in international cricket soon after he got the match-fitness”, he said.
Bari said another fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed would prove his match-fitness by playing a match for National Bank against DHA at the National Stadium, Karachi on Thursday.
“Shabbir sent down five to six overs at the PCB Academy in Karachi today but that were not enough to test his fitness”, he said.
Bari said three changes were likely to be announced on Thursday for the One-day series, starting from April 2.
Fast bowler Muhammad Khalil, opener Salman Butt and middle- order batsman Asim Kamal are likely to be sent back while openers Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez and Shabbir could replace them.
“I can not comment on any possibility. I have to talk with the team management in India after testing Shabbir fitness only then I may announce the changes tomorrow”, he said.
