PCB allows Shoaib to miss Test series against Bangladesh

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed Shoaib Akhtar to miss Pakistan's three-Test home series against Bangladesh, enabling him to play with Durham till the end of the season. Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the PCB, told Reuters: "The selectors will get a chance to try out some young fast bowlers. But Shoaib has been told to keep himself match fit." Shoaib will be available for national duties when South Africa tour Pakistan for another three-Test series.

Meanwhile, Rameez also confirmed that Pakistan had accepted an invitation to send an A team to the West Indies to participate in the 2005 Busta Cup competition. Pakistan's senior team will also tour the Caribbean for a Test series in the same year.

"We are happy to get this invitation to send our A team to play in the Busta Cup. It will definitely broaden the experience of our young players." Spelling out other measures taken by the PCB to increase the exposure-levels for Pakistan's second rung of players, Rameez stated that the board had reached an agreement with the South African Cricket Union to have academy teams exchange tours annually. He added: "We are also negotiating with the Australian cricket board to send two to three of our boys from our national academy to Australia for further training every year."