The Pakistan Cricket Board has cleared the way for Shoaib Akhtar to join Surrey despite having a history of objecting to its cricketers playing on the county circuit. However Shoaib, who has played little cricket for the last year and only recently overturned a ban from cricket, is hoping to gain fitness in order to press for a place in the national team."Shoaib has not played competitive cricket for months and he needs to regain match fitness," the PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said. "We believe a short county stint might help him in doing that. He requested a No Objection Certificate, which we have issued to him, and we have no problems if he wants to play county cricket."The former Somerset, Worcestershire and Durham player was recalled to the Pakistan team for the limited overs Champions Trophy before it was postponed. He hopes a spell at relegation-threatened Surrey will enhance his case for selection in Pakistan's Test side.The PCB recently refused players including Umar Gul and Ifthikar Rao permission to play for county clubs. "We had stopped our fast bowlers from playing for counties because such stints had affected their form and fitness," said Naghmi. "Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hassan both suffered major injuries while playing county cricket. But Shoaib's case is different. He hasn't played much cricket this year — a county stint could actually benefit him."The fast bowler could be available for Surrey as early as next week as the county, adrift at the bottom of Division One by 18 points with three matches to go, play a key game against Kent at Canterbury. But his debut may be hampered by league rules requiring overseas players to spend at least three weeks in England before playing.Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests for Pakistan, has had a career dogged by injury and controversy. Despite taking 178 Test wickets at an average of 25.69 and 219 ODI wickets in 138 games at 23.2, the bowler was banned by the PCB, which claimed he had tested positive for the steroid nandrolene. The ban was overturned on appeal.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Shoaib Akhtar to play county cricket for Surrey- Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board has cleared the way for Shoaib Akhtar to join Surrey despite having a history of objecting to its cricketers playing on the county circuit. However Shoaib, who has played little cricket for the last year and only recently overturned a ban from cricket, is hoping to gain fitness in order to press for a place in the national team."Shoaib has not played competitive cricket for months and he needs to regain match fitness," the PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said. "We believe a short county stint might help him in doing that. He requested a No Objection Certificate, which we have issued to him, and we have no problems if he wants to play county cricket."The former Somerset, Worcestershire and Durham player was recalled to the Pakistan team for the limited overs Champions Trophy before it was postponed. He hopes a spell at relegation-threatened Surrey will enhance his case for selection in Pakistan's Test side.The PCB recently refused players including Umar Gul and Ifthikar Rao permission to play for county clubs. "We had stopped our fast bowlers from playing for counties because such stints had affected their form and fitness," said Naghmi. "Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hassan both suffered major injuries while playing county cricket. But Shoaib's case is different. He hasn't played much cricket this year — a county stint could actually benefit him."The fast bowler could be available for Surrey as early as next week as the county, adrift at the bottom of Division One by 18 points with three matches to go, play a key game against Kent at Canterbury. But his debut may be hampered by league rules requiring overseas players to spend at least three weeks in England before playing.Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests for Pakistan, has had a career dogged by injury and controversy. Despite taking 178 Test wickets at an average of 25.69 and 219 ODI wickets in 138 games at 23.2, the bowler was banned by the PCB, which claimed he had tested positive for the steroid nandrolene. The ban was overturned on appeal.
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