PCB’s ‘amazing’ fitness test for Shoaib where he didn’t bowl a single ball!

October 2nd, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had approached them to fund his knee surgery in England, but the former refused to bear this expense. According to reports, Shoaib plans to undergo the surgery under the supervision of famous orthopedic surgeon Andy Williams in England on October 8.

September 19th, 2009 LAHORE - Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be seen in action in the country's premier first class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, to prove his fitness in order to make a comeback to the national squad. Akhtar would be playing for Khan Research Laboratories in the tournament beginning October 10, The Daily Times reports.

September 9th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has discontinued its enquiry against controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for criticizing the team management on a television chat show. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told media persons here, that since Akhtar has admitted his mistake and apologized for the same, board has also decided to drop the inquiry.

September 8th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt Tuesday pardoned Shoaib Akhtar after the controversial fast bowler apologized for criticizing the PCB and the national team management in a television show. "We don't want to further continue this matter as Shoaib has apologized for his mistake," the PCB chairman said.

September 7th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has advised bad boy of Pakistan cricket Shoaib Akhtar not to waste his last few years of international cricket and try to work hard to get back into the team and then go out with honour and pride. Shoaib went to attend a fund-raising campaign for Imran's Shaukat Khanum Research Cancer Hospital, but declined to speak on cricket issues with the media.

August 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's chief cricket selector Iqbal Qasim has said controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still has a future with the national side, but he must prove his fitness to be seriously considered. "The door is not closed on Shoaib, he can still play cricket for Pakistan in future.

August 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Cricket Board's newly appointed chief selector Iqbal Qasim has stated that controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still has a future in international cricket. Qasim said: "The door is not closed on Shoaib Akhtar, he can still play cricket for Pakistan in future, however what he needs to do is to prove to the selection committee that he is fit enough for international cricket." Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, he said the reports that the selectors received were that Akhtar was not fit enough to be eligible for selection for the 30 man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy and they took note of those reports accordingly.

July 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan has supported Shoaib Akhtar's omission from the 30-member ICC Champions Trophy squad, saying that the mercurial pacer is not fit to even make it to a list of 50. "In his present condition leave alone making the preliminary list of 30 players, Shoaib can't even make a list of 50 players for the tournament," Shaharyar told a private TV channel in London.

July 19th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out for the one-day international series against Sri Lanka beginning later this month. Interim cricket chief selector Wasim Bari observed Akhtar during a 'special' fitness test conducted here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), but denied to recommend the pacers name for selection saying he lacked match fitness.

July 17th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has been given another chance to prove his fitness ahead of the team selection for the one-day series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin July 30. Pakistans interim chief selector Wasim Bari has asked Shoaib to attend a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore later Friday.

July 16th, 2009 KARACHI - Shoaib Akhtar has failed to appear for a fitness test which would have helped him reserve his place in the national team for the limited over series in Sri Lanka. Acting chief selector Wasim Bari said Akhtar skipped fitness tests on Monday and Tuesday.

July 10th, 2009 KARACHI - Enigmatic Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is expected to know over this weekend whether he is eligible for an international comeback as he awaits results of a series of strenuous tests at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Shoaib, who turns 34 next month, has been asked by interim chief selector Wasim Bari to appear in a series of fitness tests which will be supervised by expert trainers.

July 8th, 2009 KARACHI - Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has vowed to silence his critics by giving a forceful performance on his return to international cricket soon. Im going to silence the people who are talking against me by making a successful return to international cricket, Shoaib told Geo Television in an interview Wednesday.

July 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has said Shoaib Akhtar must prove his hundred percent fitness if he wants to secure a berth in the national team. Nawaz said if Akhtar proved his fitness, he would definitely be included in the squad.

May 23rd, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket is bracing for yet another controversy after enigmatic fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar Saturday decided to lead Islamabad Leopards in the National Twenty20 Cup to prove his fitness for the next month's Twenty20 World Cup. Shoaib, who was unhappy over the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision to drop him from the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in England on fitness grounds, wants to prove his fitness in the tournament starting Monday.