Home advantage will be vital - Shoaib

Shoaib Akhtar believes local conditions in Pakistan and home advantage will play a significant part in the upcoming series between England and Pakistan.

On his way to Australia for the Super Series, Shoaib told reporters in Dubai, "The way I look at it England has a very strong side and has just beaten Australia. But still the conditions in Pakistan will be very different than what they are in England. We have the home advantage. Our spinners may trouble England on our wickets. The team which will adapt to the conditions will win."

Shoaib hasn't played for Pakistan since January this year, when he returned home from the VB Series in Australia with a hamstring injury. That forced him out of the India tour in March and he wasn't picked for the tour to the West Indies in May on the grounds that he was unfit.

In a bid to regain fitness, Shoaib played for Worcestershire this summer, although even his appearances there were sporadic; on a pay-as-you-play contract, Shoaib played in only four championship games, picking up 14 wickets. He also picked up seven wickets in five National League one-day matches, although six of the victims came in one game. He played in the recent Afro-Asia Cup where, apart from appearing considerably fitter than in recent times, he also bowled a few searing spells.

Speaking about his fitness troubles, Shoaib said, "I have simply learnt to accept my injuries. Fast bowlers are bound to get injured and so one cannot help it. I missed out on two tours (India and West Indies). I cannot get them back. So I have decided to try my best to be fit."

He also said he was looking forward to testing himself against and among the very best in the game and that playing for the World XI was a great honour for him. "I am not surprised to be picked for the Rest of the World side. I consider it a great honour. It will help me know the top players more closely. We often play only against each other but never together. It is good for cricket."

Shoaib is the only Pakistani player to be included in both the World XI Test and one-day sides by the International Cricket Council selection committee. Others, such as Inzamam-ul-Haq will only play in the Super Series Test in Sydney while Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq will be in the one-day squad.