July 29, 2006	Saturday	Rajab 2, 1427

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MANCHESTER, July 28: Pakistan’s pace ace Shoaib Akhtar, recuperating from a freakish stress fracture of ankle sustained at a training camp in Lahore two months ago, said on Friday he was itching to take the field and help his struggling side to victory over England in the coming matches.

Talking to newsmen after a gruelling nets session at Old Trafford, Shoaib said the frustration of being away from international cricket for nearly five months was just about getting unbearable.

“I can’t tell you how torturous it has been for me,” confessed the world’s fastest bowler as he joined teammates on a hot day at the balcony.

Akhtar, who had 30 minutes bowling under the supervision of Pakistani pace great turned team bowling coach Waqar Younis, said afterwards: “I have been running in for the last week and it's great to have nets with Waqar.

“I'm not putting pressure on my (right) ankle but I'm working really hard to come back and play for my country.

“I'm not one of those guys who likes to sit out and watch,” insisted Shoaib, who could only look on enviously as England's spearhead fast bowler Stephen Harmison took six for 19 on the first day of the Old Trafford Test.

“It's very frustrating and after watching Steve Harmison take all those wickets, I felt I could have matched him,” Akhtar said.

Looking fit and fresh in a rust colour t-shirt and denim brown shorts, Shoaib appeared excited about the prospects of making a comeback at Leeds or, more realistically, The Oval.

“I'm bowling at 80 per cent compared to my usual bowling,” said Shoaib, who has been training at Edgbaston.

“I am definitely aiming for a return in Headingley but if that doesn’t happen, The Oval match should feature my name in the playing eleven, hopefully.”

The fastest bowler in world cricket is also looking forward to his next week’s stint at Berkswell, a Birmingham League club where his two-month long rehab process is set to get over.

“I’m still feeling a bit rusty so Bob (Woolmer) asked me to play for a club team in order to get some match practice before returning to the international scene.”

“I will be playing a game for Berkswell on Aug 5 and to say that I am excited about it would be an understatement,” he said.

Not surprisingly, the players and management at the Birmingham club are over the moon about rubbing shoulders with cricket’s megastar, popularly known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’.

"It is the beauty of cricket," enthused Berkswell player Matt Nightingale.

"I don't think you would see Wayne Rooney turning out for a local Manchester league football club as part of his rehab."

Elaborating on the club’s prized catch, Nightingale said: "Our club skipper is former Warwickshire batsman Dominic Ostler, who played under Bob Woolmer in the trophy winning side of the 1990s. Dominic started the ball rolling for Shoaib’s appearance once we knew he was available."

"Dom made the initial contact and the fact Bob Woolmer was comfortable with him as captain, we received confirmation that Shoaib would, indeed, be playing."

The charismatic Pakistani paceman, who destroyed England with 17 wickets in the winter series, will be hurling his first thunderbolts in nearly six months at St Georges Club which Berskwell take on for Aug 5 match.

Meanwhile Waqar refused to get carried away by one net session.

“He (Akhtar) looked well in the nets but, since he has not played for the last five months, we want a gradual comeback and we don't want to rush him. I don't think he has any chance of playing in the Leeds Test.”

Akhtar could return to Pakistan action in the tourists' two-day game against West Indies A at Shenley which starts on Aug 12 — five days before The Oval climax. The second day of the Shenley match will also be Akhtar's 31st birthday. He has not played since appearing in the first Test against India at Karachi in February.—Agencies