Akhtar cleared to fly to England

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, MAY 6. Speedster Shoaib Akhtar got clearance from medical experts and would fly to England on Sunday, officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday.

Akhtar was held back by the PCB when Pakistan team left for the two-Test series on Wednesday as the speedster was down with upset stomach. ``We received Shoaib's medical reports today and the medical experts have cleared him,'' said Mr. Khalid Butt, media manager of the PCB from Lahore.

Butt said that Akhtar would be flown to England on Sunday on the first available flight and he might play in the second warm-up three-day game against Derbyshire, starting at Derby from May 8.

Akhtar bowled six overs and conceded 20 runs in a friendly game at Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground in Lahore on Friday and his express deliveries troubled young wicketkeeper Muhammad Hanif. While representing Lahore Gymkhana against Sevis, Akhtar could not take a wicket but sounded confident to play a major role in the Test series as well as next month's triangular series, also featuring Australia.

``I am fit and anxiously waiting to join my team-mates in England,'' Akhtar said.

The PCB received video footage of off-spinner Shoaib Malik from the International Cricket Council on Saturday. Malik's bowling action was questioned during the triangular series in Sharjah last month and now the PCB review panel would analyse the video footage of the off-spinner.

The three-member panel comprises international leg- spinner Iqbal Sikander, and former Test bolwers Mohsin Kamal and Ijaz Fakih. The committee would meet in the next three days and would recommend precautionary measures if they felt this was needed.

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