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Published 05 May, 2005 12:00am

Shoaib must get super-fit to regain spot: PCB chief says

ISLAMABAD, May 4: The ad hoc chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday that no injustice had been done to paceman Shoaib Akhtar and that he needed to be super-fit to win back his place on the team. “Our trainers have a computerised system through which they judge the fitness level of a player by points and although Shoaib has worked really hard he could not achieve the minimum fitness level of 35 points,” Shaharyar M. Khan told reporters.

The national selectors on Monday left out Shoaib from the squad that is due to leave for West Indies for a short tour comprising two Tests and three One-day Internationals. The Rawalpindi Express as Shoaib is popularly known had to miss the recent tour of India because of a hamstring injury he sustained in Australia early this year.

“I have been told that Shoaib was heading for the 35-point mark but had not reached there yet,” Shaharyar disclosed.

“It is important for him that he be fully fit because he is super fast.

“The PCB’s medical commission and the trainers were of the opinion that Shoaib had not achieved the minimum fitness level.”

Terming him as an asset, Shaharyar pointed out that he had toured with Shoaib as manager twice and had never faced any problem handling him. On his premature return from Australia where Pakistan were hammered 3-0 in the Test series, Shoaib was accused of being the bad boy of the team and was fined $500 for a breach of discipline.

“I hope that Shoaib will now play for his county Worcestershire, regain full fitness and return to the Pakistan side but he will have to prove that he is fully fit.” Shaharyar dismissed as “absolute nonsense” the notion that the selectors were under the complete influence of captain Inzamamul Haq and coach Bob Woolmer.

“The selectors do consult the captain and the coach and I don’t see anything wrong with that. It is like that the world over. But once the consultation has been done, the selectors then decide on the final composition of the team.”

Meanwhile, he announced that it would take the PCB almost two weeks before the new constitution is completely ready.

“The draft of the constitution was given to us on the 27th, we have gone through it in-house and although it is a comprehensive document, we feel that some editorial changes might be required.”

“We will now give our views in writing to Justice Karamat Nazir Bandhari and I think the entire process should not take more than two weeks.”

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