The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Akhtar should be fit’

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‘Akhtar should be fit’

Karachi: Pakistan’s chief coach Geoff Lawson on Friday backed down from giving full support to the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar in the national team, saying the fast bowler’s return to the side would depend on his focus on his cricket.

Lawson, who has been propagating the importance of having Shoaib in the team, told reporters here that Pakistan had enough back up talent to manage even if the fast bowler was not available. “There is no doubt he has some years of cricket left in him but it is totally up to him what he wants to do. Whether he wants to focus on his cricket or do other things. But he can be in the team only if he is mentally and physically fit,” Lawson said.

I want full fitness

“My insistence is on only having players in the team who are 100 per cent fit mentally and physically and have their focus on cricket rather than other things,” he added. Shoaib is facing a disciplinary hearing by next week in which he has been charged with criticising the policies of the PCB despite being under a one-year probation after being banned for 13 matches and fined Rs. 3.4 million last year. — PTI

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