TORONTO, Oct 11: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar marked his return to international cricket by taking two wickets to help Pakistan to a 35-run win over Canada in the four-nation Twenty20 tournament here on Friday.

Shoaib, who last played for the national team against India last December before a spectacular fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board, struck in his first two overs when he removed Abdool Samad and Mohammad Iqbal at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City.

The 33-year-old finished with 2-11 although he suffered the indignity of being pulled for six by Rizwan Cheema.

Pakistan opener Salman Butt was man of the match for his 74 off 56 balls as the Asian giants made a modest 137-7 before Canada were restricted to 102 for 9.

Cheema and Manoj David added 52 for the third wicket to give Canada hope but once David was removed by Umar Gul, the home side lost their next six wickets for just 37 runs.

Pakistan were made to work for their runs and when skipper Shoaib Malik (9) was dismissed, they were 63 for 3 following the losses of debutant Shoaib Khan (9) and Younis Khan (13).

Salman’s contribution was decisive with Misbah-ul-Haq (17) the next highest scorer.

On Saturday, Canada face Zimbabwe while Sri Lanka tackle Pakistan.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Salman Butt c Jethi b Baidwan 74

Shoaib Khan Jr c Dhaniram b Bhatti 9

Younis Khan c Samad b Baidwan 13

Shoaib Malik b Rizwan 9

Misbah-ul-Haq c Rizwan b Baidwan 17

Shahid Afridi c Dhaniram b Bhatti 7

Kamran Akmal b Bhatti 2

Sohail Tanvir not out 0

Umar Gul not out 0

EXTRAS (B1, LB2, W3) 6

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 137

FALL OF WKTS: 1-20, 2-50, 3-63, 4-127,

5-127, 6-130, 7-137.

DID NOT BAT: Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Khan.

Bowling: Osinde 4-0-23-0; Umar Bhatti

4-0-23-3 (1w); Rizwan Cheema 4-0-21-1; Baidwan 3-0-15-3; Balaji Rao 3-0-29-0 (1w); Dhaniram 2-0-23-0 (1w).

CANADA:

A.M. Samad c Younis b Shoaib Akhtar 0

Rizwan Cheema c Misbah b S. Malik 34

Mohammad Iqbal b Shoaib Akhtar 4

R.R. David c Shoaib Malik b Umar 17

A.A. Mulla c Salman b Afridi 1

S. Dhaniram st Kamran b Shoaib Malik 17

K. Jethi b Sohail Tanvir 0

W.D. Balaji Rao b Sohail Tanvir 7

Umar Bhatti not out 5

H.S. Baidwan run out 1

H. Osinde not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-13) 15

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 102

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-13, 3-65, 4-66, 5-71, 6-73, 7-81, 8-99, 9-100.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 3-0-11-2 (3w); Sohail Tanvir 4-0-29-2 (2w); Sohail Khan 1-0-7-0 (2w); Shahid Afridi 4-1-13-1; Umar Gul

4-0-14-1 (1w); Shoaib Malik 4-0-26-2 (1w).

RESULT: Pakistan won by 35 runs.

UMPIRES: K. Bayney (Canada) and M.R. Benson (England).

TV UMPIRE: K. Shantikumar (Canada).

MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Salman Butt.—AFP