Shoaib unlikely for Oval Test

Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely to play in the fourth and final Test at The Oval starting this Thursday due to a lack of bowling in the two friendly 50 over games against West Indies A this past weekend.

Rain affected both games with Shoaib only managing 11 overs across the two days.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had said before the weekend that Shoaib would need at least 15 overs in each game to prepare himself for Test cricket.

This didn’t happen but Woolmer has not ruled Shoaib out of playing in the fourth Test against England however.

It appears very unlikely though with the heavy schedule the Pakistan team have over the next eight months and the importance of Shoaib to the team.

Akhtar is now likely to make his come back during the five match one-day international series against England starting on 30th August at Sophia Gardens.