Latest Shoaib Akhtar injury hits Pakistan plans by AFP

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Player:	Shoaib Akhtar
Event:	West Indies in United Arab Emirates 2008/09

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DateLine: 12th November 2008

 

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss the first one-day match against the West Indies here on Wednesday after pulling his left calf muscle during a practice session Tuesday night.

 

Team manager Yawar Saeed said the latest setback in the 34-year-old bowler's injury-prone career was not serious.

 

"We are not treating it as an injury, it's just a calf muscle pull and we will reassess his injury on Wednesday and then on Thursday before deciding when he can take the field," Saeed told AFP.

 

The second and third matches of the three-game series will be played on Friday and Sunday.

 

Saeed said no replacement has been sought and fast bowler Abdur Rauf will take Akhtar's place in the team for the first match.

 

"Coach Intikhab Alam is clear that only a 100 percent Akhtar will play because we have an important series against India in two months time and we will not risk any further injury for Akhtar," said Saeed.

 

West Indian captain Chris Gayle had earlier singled out Akhtar as the key factor for Pakistan, describing him as "a wicket-taking bowler in a strong Pakistan pace attack."

 

Fitness and disciplinary problems have prevented Akhtar from competing in one-day internationals for over a year.

 

The mercurial paceman, who has taken 219 wickets in 138 one-dayers, returned to the squad in August for a Twenty20 tournament in Canada.

 

Concerned over his lack of fitness, the Pakistani selectors only picked him for this series after he put up an impressive performance in two domestic matches last month.

 

Since making his debut in 1997, Akhtar has been plagued by injury problems. He had to undergo twin knee operations in 2006 which forced him out of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka and England.

 

He also missed last year's World Cup in the West Indies due to injury.

(Article: Copyright © 2008 AFP)