Fun loving Akhtar not to be considered for Zimbabwe series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) national selection committee has decided not to consider controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar for the upcoming home one-day international series against Zimbabwe, because he is still having fun in India instead of participating in the domestic series.

Lahore, Dec 26 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) national selection committee has decided not to consider controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar for the upcoming home one-day international series against Zimbabwe, because he is still having fun in India instead of participating in the domestic series.

"PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf asked Akhtar to come back from India and participate in domestic cricket to prove his fitness. But Akhtar refused to do so. He is still having 'fun' in India," the sources said.

"Keeping in view the behaviour of the fast bowler, the selectors have decided to replace Akhtar with pacers Sohail Khan or Abdul Rauf," they added.

Sohail has taken 65 wickets in nine matches while representing Sui Southern Gas Company in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

He is also regarded as the reverse swing specialist.

Okara-based Rauf has 367 wickets against his name in the domestic circuit.

The selectors are likely to include both bowlers in the national camp. The selectors have also decided to try young blood in the batting department as well.

Quetta's opener Shoaib Khan and Nasir Jamshed (National Bank of Pakistan) are the leading candidates for the national camp.

Shoaib has scored 863 runs in the domestic matches while Nasir, 19, has grabbed the selectors' attention with his 752 runs.

The home series against Zimbabwe will start from January 26, the Daily Times reported.

ANI