Only fit Shoaib to be selected

Published June 4, 2006

LAHORE, June 3: Chief selector Wasim Bari has said that only a match-fit Shoaib Akhtar will be considered for the forthcoming tour of England.

“The selectors will consider the medical reports of Shoaib and if he is fit the fast bowler will be included in the team,” Bari said on Saturday.

Pakistan will tour England from June 25 to play four Tests and five ODIs, besides a Twenty20 game and some side matches.

The injury-prone Shoaib, who has been sidelined since missing five ODIs home series against India in February this year, is still under scrutiny due to an injured left ankle.

Shoaib is on seven-day rest, a decision announced by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week.

The rest period ends on Tuesday while the selectors are scheduled to finalise the team for the tour on Thursday.

Asked if Shoaib's fitness could be confirmed in just two days, Bari said that it was not his problem.

“We will consider the latest medical reports of each and every player and then will hand over the team to the PCB on Friday," Bari added.

According to a medical report, Shoaib's ankle is fine but the troublesome area is the fibula bone's lower portion, just above the ankle, where there is some swelling which could take three months to heal up.

Bari said that the selectors would also finalise Pakistan ‘A’ squad on Thursday for next month’s tour of Australia.

After the selection, the training camps of both the teams would be held in Lahore from June 12.

Twenty-nine probables were summoned for the ongoing conditioning camp of ‘A’ team but some are still missing because of league cricket commitments in England.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...