Shoaib on cloud nine after smooth return, PCB cautious

Lahore, Aug 7 (UNI) Flying high after coming out unscathed in his appearance for a village team in England, Shoaib Akhtar says the time to make his international return is not far but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made it clear that the mercurial pacer would have to prove himself 100 per cent fit before staking a claim for selection.

Shoaib, who has been out of action after a second stress fracture in his ankle, played for a village side Berkswell in a third division Birmingham League match last week.

The speedster claimed that he had no trouble while bowling his spell of eight overs and was looking forward to making his international comeback.

''Nothing will give me more of a buzz than getting back into the Pakistan team and taking wickets again. Hopefully, that moment is not too far away,'' Shoiab wrote in his column for a website.

''It was only a few overs for a club side but my first bowl in almost eight months was a very enjoyable moment for me on Saturday.

I bowled just short of eight overs and I felt good and was pleased that all the fitness work I have done in the last few months is starting to pay off,'' he added.

Shoaib admitted to being cautious in his bowling for the fear of injury and said he cut down on his pace to avoid any breakdown.

''I bowled at full speed for a couple of overs but came down to about half pace later on as I didn't want to risk a pulled muscle or strain in my first proper bowl in a long time,'' he said.

Meanwhile, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said Shoaib's return would not be rushed and the bowler would be selected only when the selectors were comepletely convinced about his fitness.

''We will not consider Shoaib if he fails to show his hundred percent fitness before the fourth Test against England at the Oval,'' the PCB chairman told 'The News'.

''He has to prove his fitness before staking his claim in the Test side. We will not consider him until he would be fit enough to give his hundred percent,'' Shaharyar said.

Shaharyar revealed that Shoaib would be given a chance to prove his fitness in the one-day match against West Indies A and if the pacer manages to convince the selectors, he would be considered for the last Test of the four-match series against England.

''We want to play a fully fit and committed team in The Oval Test. We do not want to try a half fit Shoaib. It would not only risk his injury but would also make us play with ten and a half players,'' the PCB chief said.

''Playing a half fit Shoaib would mean we would be exposing him to injury and we do not want to do that. Another injury at this point of time could prove a telling blow as far as his cricketing career is concerned,'' he added.

Shoaib himself, despite being optimistic, said that he was in no mood to risk himself.

''I'm not making any predictions on my comeback date and all I can do is keep up my training and improving every new game I bowl,'' he said.

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