KARACHI, Jan 11: Pakistan express bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday evening left for South Africa to join national cricket team. Shoaib left from Karachi for Johannesburg via Dubai. He would be joining Pakistan Test squad as a cover for paceman Umar Gul and will be available to the team for the second Test at Port Elizabeth, starting from Jan 19.

“I am delighted to be in the national team and eager to play an important role against Proteas from Pakistani side,” Shoaib said.

He once again ruled out any differences with the skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and vowed to give his 100 per cent in the second Test.

“I do not know who was behind my exclusion from the preliminary national squad for South Africa but I am a team man and would give my best.”—Agencies