Akhtar not in contention for SL by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Shoaib Akhtar
Event:	Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2009

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DateLine: 18th July 2009

 

Pakistan Interim chief selector Wasim Bari has said that Shoaib Akhtar will not be considered for the ODI series in Sri Lanka on fitness grounds.

 

Bari left for Sri Lanka on Saturday to consult with the team management over the composition of the one-day squad.

 

He said that said since Akhtar had only given fitness test but not bowled in the nets, the selectors were not aware of his match fitness.

 

"Without knowing his match fitness how can we select him for the series. Until he does not play a few matches we cannot be sure of his match fitness," Bari, a former Test captain and now PCB Director Human Resources, said.

 

Akhtar underwent a fitness test on Friday at National Academy in Lahore but the whole exercise ended in bizarre fashion.

 

Bari and one of the selectors, Ejaz Ahmed, were apparently not allowed by academy in-charge to conduct the full fitness test and they left without Akhtar doing any bowling in the nets.

 

Bari also said he would speak to the team management about the inclusion of the fast bowler among the 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy in September in South Africa.

 

"If he (Akhtar) is in the 30 his fitness can be assessed later on," Bari said.