Shoaib Akhtar's arrival to bolster morale of Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata, May 4 (UNI) Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who is keen to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League T20, will have to pass the fitness test after his arrival here.

Pakistan Cricket Board today temporarily suspended the five-year-ban on Akhtar and told the Rawalpindi Express to go ahead to play in the IPL.

KKR have bought Shoaib Akhtar at an auction 4,25,000 dollars.

KKR sources here tonight said that Akhtar will have to go for a fitness test under team physio Andrew Leipus in Kolkata.

Akhtar is expected to arrive here tomorrow.

Sourav Ganguly and his boys are scheduled to arrive here tonight from Mohali after four straight defeats in six matches.

KKR, owned by Bolywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, will play their seventh match against Rahul Dravid led Bangalore Royal Challengers in Kolkata on May 8. Dravid team lost first home match to Kolkata.

As news arrived of lifting of suspension on Akhtar, Kolkata's cricket fans celebrated on typical style with optimism that Rawalpindi Express would bloster morale of KKR, which already went fifth in league table from poll in the eight-team competition.

KKR after the two back-to-back wins against Bangalore and Hyderabad, lost all four matches due to both poor bowling and batting line up.

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