Akhtar recalled by Pakistan for Twenty20 by AFP

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Ground:	County Ground, Bristol
Scorecard:	England v Pakistan
Player:	Shoaib Akhtar
Event:	Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 28th August 2006

 

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was recalled to the team for their Twenty20 international against England at the County Ground here Monday.

 

The Rawalpindi Express missed the whole of the recently concluded Test series while he recovered from a stress fracture of the left ankle.

 

Fellow quick Rana Naved, also absent during the Tests with a groin problem, was also in the side.

 

And Pakistan welcomed back another Test series absentee in opening batsman Shoaib Malik, who missed the four-match campaign with an elbow problem.

 

England handed senior debuts to Stuart Broad and Michael Yardy as well as recalling veteran quick Darren Gough.

 

Leicestershire fast bowler Broad, the 20-year-old son of former England opening batsman Chris, was included after taking 40 first-class wickets this season and starring in his county's march to the domestic Twenty20 title.

 

Yardy, a batsman who also bowls left-arm spin, top scored for Sussex with 37 in their C and G Trophy one-day final victory against Lancashire at Lord's on Saturday.

 

Veteran quick Gough, England's leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals with 235 wickets, last played for his country in a limited overs clash against Australia at The Oval in July 2005.

 

This match was the first between England and Pakistan since the tourists' controversially forfeited the fourth Test at The Oval a week last Sunday where they failed to take the field after being penalised five runs for alleged ball-tampering.

 

That decision saw England awarded the match and with it claim a 3-0 Test series victory.

 

England: Marcus Trescothick, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss (capt), Paul Collingwood, James Dalrymple, Michael Yardy, Chris Read (wkt), Sajid Mahmood, Darren Gough, Stuart Broad.

 

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif.

 

Umpires: Peter Hartley (ENG), Nigel Llong (ENG).

 

TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG).

 

Match referee: Mike Procter (RSA).

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)