Akhtar eyeing New Zealand Test series for staging comeback

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.

September 30th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board's senior selection committee has axed controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq from a list of 25 probables for the forthcoming series against New Zealand and Australia. Pakistan is to play three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a three-match Test series in New Zealand.

September 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan will host a limited overs series against New Zealand in UAE Nov 3-13, the country's cricket board announced Saturday. According to the itinerary announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan will host New Zealand for a three-match One-day International (ODI) series in Abu Dhabi Nov 3-9 following by two Twenty20 Internationals in Dubai Nov 12 and 13.

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.

August 17th, 2009 KARACHI - New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has demanded $750,000 from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the three-match Test series in November. The series was supposed to be played in Pakistan but was relocated because of security apprehensions.

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 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.