September 27, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 14, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 26: Former Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include speedster Shoaib Akhtar in the team for the home series against South Africa commencing from Oct 1.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, Wasim said that though the young team performed well in the first Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, Test cricket was an entirely different ball game and the team needed a fast bowler like Shoaib to provide it with an edge over the opponents.

“Twenty20 cricket is an entertaining form of cricket but it can not speak about the real talent of a cricketer,” said Wasim. “Test cricket is the real thing and I believe Shoaib has the talent and potential to play for the country for another two years.”

Shoaib’s future in the game appears uncertain at this stage after the PCB imposed a ban on the fiery pacer for an indefinite period over hitting fellow-fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat in Johannesburg on the eve of the Twenty20 World Cup.“The PCB should start the inquiry immediately into the case and should announce the verdict well before the start of the Test series. I believe Shoaib is still the need of the team and he must be playing against South Africa,” said Wasim who played 104 Test and 356 ODIs for Pakistan. “To me the case is over since Shoaib has already apologised to the nation and also to Asif,” he said.The former skipper said the morale of the nation was high after Pakistan played the final of the Twenty20 World Cup but in order to maintain the winning tempo, Pakistan’s best team should be playing against the South Africans.