‘Fully recovered’ Akhtar eyeing ‘home’ series against Oz for international comeback
By ANITuesday, April 13, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Temperamental Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has claimed to have fully recovered from his knee injury and is eyeing a return to the national squad during the upcoming series against Australia in England.
Akhtar, who has been included in one of the teams playing in the Pentagular Cup, said he would try to make the most of the domestic tournament in order to represent his case in front of the selectors.
“I am thankful to the cricket board for giving me this opportunity to prove myself again and I want to give it my best effort,” Akhtar told a cricket website.
“Now that the surgery has been done and the rehabilitation process has also gone well, I am back to my top fitness level. And the knee problem is no longer a hindrance for me to give my best on the field,” Akhtar, who has been out of action for nearly a year, said.
After missing the ICC T20 World Championship, Akhtar is targeting the ‘home’ Test series against Australia, which would be played in England in July, for his comeback to the international stage.
“The England tour would be the perfect place for me to come back as it has good conditions for bowling and the best facilities for a bowler coming back from an injury,” The Dawn quoted Akhtar, as saying.
The 34-year old fast bowler criticised people who had written him off as a ’spent force’ saying it was a ‘mistake’ on the part of them to ignore him.
Akhtar, who taken 178 Test and 223 one-day wickets, has not featured in any international match for Pakistan since May 2009 when he played against Australia in Dubai. (ANI)
