The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Shoaib may miss entire India tour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 11, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Shoaib may miss entire India tour

KARACHI, MARCH 10. Shoaib Akhtar, recuperating from a hamstring injury, may miss the entire tour of India as the fast bowler would take time to be match-fit.

``I do not think I would be able to play even the one-day series. Although I am feeling a little better, my hamstring is very weak and my doctor has advised for a complete rest before starting bowling again even in the nets,'' Shoiab was quoted as saying by the Pakistan newspaper The News on Thursday.

Reacting to reports that he would be able to join the Pakistan team for the third and final Test and the one-day series later, he said, ``it is only a rumour. I do not think I would be able to play even in one-dayers and participating in the last Test is totally out of question.''

Pakistan manager, Saleem Altaf, was earlier quoted by the same newspaper as saying that there was a possibility of Shoaib joining the team during the Test series.

``Who would not like the team's main strike bowler to be available for the Tests if he is fit? I am in touch with the board and the reports on his fitness are encouraging.

``I am keeping a regular tab on Shoaib's progress in Lahore. The report is that his hamstring strain has healed up and now the only thing remaining is that he passes the fitness test before he can be cleared to join the team,'' Altaf said.

But Shoaib clarified that although he was feeling better, he required another three weeks before he could resume bowling.

``I am trying hard to get fit but the problem still exists," he said.

The newspaper also claimed that the doctor treating Shoaib had also verified the bowler's claim that he needed three weeks to regain fitness.

``Shoaib needs another 20 days to start bowling at the nets and even some extra time to get the match fitness back,'' the paper said without identifying the doctor. — PTI

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