Danny
04-05-2005, 07:41 AM
He claims to be fit but the Pakistan selectors have denied him a place on the team for the Tour of West Indies. He is not happy but I tend to agree with the selectors, you need to prove your fitness by bowling in matches and NOT breaking down. Then you can be considered for you national team.
Angry Akhtar vows to return
From correspondents in Lahore
May 4, 2005
FOXSPORTS
FIERY fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says he was not given the chance to prove his fitness before being axed from the Pakistan squad to tour West Indies.
Selectors left out Akhtar and his new-ball partner Mohammad Sami for not being fit for Pakistan's three one-dayers and two Tests in the Caribbean. Sami may be recalled for the Tests but there are no such hopes for Akhtar.
"I am disappointed. I am fit and was ready for any fitness test," said the 29-year-old, who missed Pakistan's tour of India in March-April due to a hamstring injury.
"I wanted to play in the West Indies and am disappointed not to be the part of the team. But I will make a comeback," he added.
Akhtar sustained the hamstring injury on Pakistan's tour of Australia earlier this year but has recently appeared in five domestic matches, taking an impressive 5-23 in one of the two Twenty20 Cup matches he played last week.
Akhtar, who also sat out during Pakistan's last tour of the West Indies due to a rib injury, said that the selectors did not give him a chance to prove his fitness.
"I thought they would give me a fitness test for which I was ready, but no one asked me to appear," said Akhtar, who has reportedly lost favour with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Pakistan's English coach Bob Woolmer.
"Akhtar must regain fitness and improve his attitude to come back in the team," said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman when announcing the team on Monday.
A PCB panel of doctors also found him overweight and unfit in a report submitted to the selectors.
Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari justified Akhtar's exclusion. "We have acted on medical reports of Akhtar. One of the selectors saw the Twenty20 match and found him lacking in fitness," said Bari.
"He has a lot of cricket to play. He is an asset and I am ready to help him in his rehabilitation but he must regain fitness and play a role in Pakistan's important home series against England in five months time," said Bari.
But Akhtar, who is due to fly to England to play for Worcestershire next week, disagrees.
"I can bowl long spells and am not overweight. I love playing for Pakistan and will come back soon," he said.
Akhtar has taken 144 wickets in 36 Tests and 186 wickets in 120 one-day internationals.
Angry Akhtar vows to return
From correspondents in Lahore
May 4, 2005
FOXSPORTS
FIERY fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says he was not given the chance to prove his fitness before being axed from the Pakistan squad to tour West Indies.
Selectors left out Akhtar and his new-ball partner Mohammad Sami for not being fit for Pakistan's three one-dayers and two Tests in the Caribbean. Sami may be recalled for the Tests but there are no such hopes for Akhtar.
"I am disappointed. I am fit and was ready for any fitness test," said the 29-year-old, who missed Pakistan's tour of India in March-April due to a hamstring injury.
"I wanted to play in the West Indies and am disappointed not to be the part of the team. But I will make a comeback," he added.
Akhtar sustained the hamstring injury on Pakistan's tour of Australia earlier this year but has recently appeared in five domestic matches, taking an impressive 5-23 in one of the two Twenty20 Cup matches he played last week.
Akhtar, who also sat out during Pakistan's last tour of the West Indies due to a rib injury, said that the selectors did not give him a chance to prove his fitness.
"I thought they would give me a fitness test for which I was ready, but no one asked me to appear," said Akhtar, who has reportedly lost favour with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Pakistan's English coach Bob Woolmer.
"Akhtar must regain fitness and improve his attitude to come back in the team," said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman when announcing the team on Monday.
A PCB panel of doctors also found him overweight and unfit in a report submitted to the selectors.
Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari justified Akhtar's exclusion. "We have acted on medical reports of Akhtar. One of the selectors saw the Twenty20 match and found him lacking in fitness," said Bari.
"He has a lot of cricket to play. He is an asset and I am ready to help him in his rehabilitation but he must regain fitness and play a role in Pakistan's important home series against England in five months time," said Bari.
But Akhtar, who is due to fly to England to play for Worcestershire next week, disagrees.
"I can bowl long spells and am not overweight. I love playing for Pakistan and will come back soon," he said.
Akhtar has taken 144 wickets in 36 Tests and 186 wickets in 120 one-day internationals.