Shoaib and Asif need time - Woolmer

Shoaib Akhtar needs to play domestic cricket before and international return © Getty Images Enlarge

Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, has said Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif are unlikely to make a rapid return to the team despite having their drug bans overturned this week.

Both pace bowlers trained with the Pakistan squad ahead of the third one-day international against West Indies in Lahore, but Woolmer is playing down thoughts of them lining up in any of the last three matches.

"Of course their return is good for the team and I hope everything goes well for them. I don't see them playing in this West Indies series because they need match practice, but you never know.

"Akhtar told me he needs a month and Asif too needs time so they must play some domestic matches. Their return will certainly boost our bowling."

Akthar and Asif, banned for two years and one year respectively in November after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone, won their appeals against the punishments on Tuesday. The decision prompted criticism from ICC, but Woolmer said he was satisfied.

"I read a lot of reaction on the judgment, most of which was uninformed. Both the commissions did the right thing and if you read the appeal committee's judgment, you would be satisfied like I am."