21 April 2005	Thursday	11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 20: Pakistan cricket chief on Wednesday made it clear that pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed could return to the team for the West Indies only if they proved their match fitness. Shaharyar M. Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said that both bowlers had now recovered from their injuries but their match fitness remained to be adjudged. “Shabbir has played four one-day matches but the selectors have to keep in mind that he has not been bowling for four months.”

He said that Shoaib had played fewer matches. “In one of the games he took four wickets. His match fitness will be judged by the selectors before the team is named for West Indies.”

Shaharyar dismissed reports that the selection committee was being changed but added that there will be a new manager for the West Indies tour where Pakistan play two Tests and three one-dayers.

Earlier, Shaharyar inaugurated the Rawalpindi Region National Schools Championship at the Punjab Ground in Islamabad.