KOLKATA, Nov 27: Pakistan cricket team , still smarting from the demoralising defeat in the first Test at New Delhi, received a big setback on Tuesday when fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was hospitalised for severe dehydration and chest congestion shortly after arriving in the city.

“The doctors have advised me to get hospitalised as I need to overcome dehydration,” Shoaib told Dawn after arriving here on Tuesday afternoon. “I wasn’t feeling well on the last day of the Delhi Test but continued to bowl despite fever and congestion. Later, I felt completely drained out and am still feeling extremely weak. I will try my best to overcome this because I really want to play the second Test and help Pakistan level the series,” the fiery speedster, who claimed six wickets in the first Test, added.

Shoaib complained of fever at the team’s hotel in Delhi late on Monday night and was immediately referred to a hospital upon the team’s arrival here on Tuesday morning.