Akhtar may not play all five ODIs

ISLAMABAD: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar may not be fit enough to play all the five one-day internationals against Australia in his latest return to international cricket, local media reported Thursday.

‘The fast bowler had shown signs of fatigue and exhaustion even after training for three days at the national camp,’ The News daily said.

Akhtar, 33, passed a strenuous fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore before he was named in the 15-man squad for the series against Australia, starting in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates from April 22.

The News cited an unnamed member of the national squad as saying it was a risk to select Akhtar because there are questions over the paceman's fitness and readiness to make an impact on the Australians.

Akhtar has played just two one-day internationals since November 2007 due to disciplinary and fitness problems.

Last week he told reporters in Lahore that he wanted to bowl his full quota of 10 overs and enjoy fielding, adding there was no guarantee of a player's fitness in international cricket.

‘Nobody can give a guarantee of fitness in international matches, but I have come into the side after passing a fitness test,’ he said.

Akhtar was selected for the three one-dayers against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi, the UAE last year, but was injured during a practice session ahead of the first match and sat out the series.

In January, Akhtar made an another return to international cricket but he was dropped after taking just one wicket for 88 runs in two limited-overs matches against Sri Lanka at home. He failed to complete his full quota of 10 overs in either game and was later ruled out of the test series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury.

The Pakistan Cricket Board shifted April's limited-overs series to neutral venue after Australia had declined to tour Pakistan on security grounds, even before the terror attack on the Sri Lanka team last month in Lahore that injured seven members of the touring party and left six police men and a driver dead.

Dubai will host the first two games before the series moves to Abu Dhabi for the remaining three matches. Both teams return to Dubai for the only Twenty20 game on May 7.