Akhtar out until at least 4th Test

Shoaib Akhtar’s return to the Pakistan squad in England has been ruled out until at least the fourth Test due to a lack of match fitness.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Shaharyar Khan said Shoaib was making a speedy recovery from his ankle injury, but needs time to return to match fitness before taking the field with Pakistan again.

The PCB are looking into various options for his return to cricket including Shoaib playing a few warm-up games in England prior to the possibility of him making a return in the fourth Test at The Oval or in the five match one-day international series that follows.