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Shoaib to train with Warwickshire

Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler, will train with Warwickshire as he recovers from a stress fracture of the ankle that ruled him out of the initial part of Pakistan's tour of England

Cricinfo staff
14-Jul-2006


Bob Woolmer says that Shoaib could be fit for the third and fourth Tests © AFP
Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler, will train with Warwickshire as he recovers from a stress fracture of the ankle that ruled him out of the initial part of Pakistan's tour of England.
"They [Warwickshire] will try to arrange a couple of club matches to help him come back from his injury," Shahryar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told bigstarcricket.com. He is improving quickly but needs match practice and the weather in Pakistan right now is not conducive to him playing there - it is either too hot or raining. So he will train in England and will be checked up by our medical team."
Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, was hopeful that shoaib would be fit towards the end of the series. "We've not completely given up hope," Woolmer told BBC Test Match Special. "We're looking to get him going and - touch wood - he might be available for the third and fourth Tests.
"We've had some good news recently. His fracture's virtually healed, so he should be able to start bowling again. We're going to bring him over to England and try to find him some cricket. So if there are any clubs interested in having him bowl for them on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon then that would be useful for us."
Shoaib had earlier expressed plans to be fit in time for the second Test at Old Trafford from July 27. But Shahryar made it clear that it was not a possibility. Shoaib last played for Pakistan in the Karachi Test against India in January this year. He has been out of action for the best part of the last five months after undergoing a twin knee surgery in Australia in February. He was named in a provisional Pakistan squad for England earlier this summer but was left out of the 16-man touring party after it was revealed that an earlier ankle fracture had not healed.