Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq not in probables list for NZ, Australia series

October 11th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be fit in time to get in contention for a place in the Test squad for the tour of New Zealand later this year after his knee surgery in London last week. Sources close to Akhtar told IANS Sunday that the pacer was treated by world famous knee specialist Andrew Williams in London and is now on a two-week rest after a successful surgery.

October 5th, 2009 LONDON - Controversial Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has sought the service of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's surgeon for his knee injury problems. "The appointment is confirmed and Dr.

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.

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.

August 3rd, 2009 KARACHI - Controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar's hopes of ending his legal tussle with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received a set-back Monday when a hearing on his case against an 18-month ban and a fine of Rs.7 million was postponed indefinitely because the judge supervising the case has been dismissed from duty. Lahore High Court (LHC) judge Imtiaz Siddiqui, hearing Shoaib's case, was one of the judges made non-functional following last week's ruling from Pakistan's Supreme Court.

July 29th, 2009 KARACHI - Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is eyeing a successful return to the national team during the forthcoming New Zealand and Australia tours. Sources close to Akhtar said the pacer is planning a definite strategy to facilitate his comeback.

July 28th, 2009 KARACHI - Undaunted by comments that he is a spent force, fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is eyeing a successful comeback during Pakistan's tours of New Zealand and Australia starting in November this year. Sources close to Akhtar told IANS Tuesday that the fast bowler is planning to follow a strict training regime to regain his form and fitness for a return to international cricket.

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 18th, 2009 LAHORE - Ever heard of a fitness test for a fast bowler where he passes it without even bowling a single delivery; well this is just what the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to do. Interim chief selector Wasim Bari conducted a fitness test for controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar where he did not bowl even a single delivery.

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 9th, 2009 KARACHI - Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has declared himself hundred percent fit, saying he would soon force his way back into the national squad. Akhtar, who was left out of World Twenty20 team due to a skin infection and was being referred to as a spent force by experts, said he would make his critics eat their words through his performances.

July 8th, 2009 LAHORE - One can not keep controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar away from news, and like earlier occasions, this time too the speedster is in the news for all wrong reasons, as he has threatened to take legal action against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Akhtar, who is on a PCB central contract, has reportedly said that he reserves the right to sue the board over its decision of not including him in the World Twenty20 Championship squad.

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.