January 12, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 02,1429

LAHORE, Jan 11: Shoaib Akhtar has made himself available for the coming home series against Zimbabwe.

Sources told Dawn that Shoaib has informed chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed that he was ready to play against the Zimbabweans, coming to Pakistan on Saturday to play five ODIs.

Shoaib, sources added, who was keen to use Zimbabwe contests as a practice opportunity for a much more serious business against Australia in March, was ready to play even two, three ODIs if not more, as the selectors were interested in introducing youngsters against a lowly-rated Zimbabwe squad.