Pakistan's hopes still pinned on 'Express'

The script sounds the same.

Pakistan are hopeful that the inactive Shoaib Akhtar will be finally ready for the decisive third Test against the West Indies starting tomorrow at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

'He is getting better and better and he's got confidence,' team coach Javed Miandad said after the drawn second Test ended on Monday.

'We have to decide on how he goes and he is keen to play.'

The Rawalpindi Express, the game's fastest and most exciting bowler, arrived in the Caribbean on April 2 with a groin injury sustained in the preceding Sharjah Cup; since then he has been affected by a side strain, a fever and whatever else.

They have limited him to a solitary One-Day and in spite of reported positive progress from the Pakistan camp, he was unable to appear in either of the first two Tests or the two first-class matches that preceded them in Guyana and Barbados.

During Pakistan's match against the West Indies 'A' at Kensington Oval, there were whispers that Shoaib was likely to leave the Caribbean, and there was even a report saying much the same in the Pakistani Dawn newspaper.

'There are so many things always coming in the paper and rumours about always going home when you are touring,' Javed said in denying the report.

'We don't work things this way. You could see he is here and with the team.

'He was struggling, but obviously we wanted him because he was part of the team. We wanted him to stay as long as the team is staying in the Caribbean.'

Javed said a bowler of Shoaib's ability would always be an asset to any side.

'If you have a bowler like this, you always wait and hold and whenever he comes he can win the game for the team,' the Pakistan coach said.

Shoaib has not been named in the Pakistan team for the forthcoming Asia Cup in Bangladesh because of his commitments with an English county. Pakistan also have another injury worry on their hands ahead of the third Test.

Abdur Razzaq is still battling with a thigh strain that required the use of a runner in his second innings knock of 72 at Kensington Oval.

Javed, however, was almost certain that Razzaq would be match-fit come tomorrow.