Akhtar and Anwar want some practice

Two members of the touring Pakistan cricket team want some hard practice before their opening one-day match against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

Shoaib Akhtar, the brilliant young fast bowler who burst onto the international scene two years ago, is now recovering from surgery.

"I am fully fit now," said Shoaib at Auckland Airport today, "but have not had any big-match experience lately (it is about 10 months since he last played). But I feel good, and am certain I will be get back to my old pace."

Saeed Anwar, one of the outstanding opening batsmen in recent years, especially in one-day matches, was concerned about a lack of recent match play.

"I have not had much cricket over the last two months."

Another veteran of tours to New Zealand, Mushtaq Ahmed, the leg-spinner, liked New Zealand pitches when he toured here previously, and hoped he would get the same help this time.

"I was one of the last players picked for this tour," said Mushtaq, "but I feel good, and my spinning fingers feel strong."