Shoaib Akhtar may have been cleared to play in the Indian Premier League
but former players say the maverick pacer will find it tough to make an impact
in the twenty20 league as months of absence from the cricket field has robbed
him of match fitness.
The beleaguered pacer, whose five-year ban was suspended yesterday for a month
by the appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has bowled just
18 overs and played one competitive match since mid-December last year.
He has not played since February 13 this year when he led the Federal Areas
team against Punjab in the Pentangular Cup tournament in Lahore and didn't
get a wicket.
His last appearance for Pakistan was the third Test in Bangalore against India
in early December last year.
Since then he was dropped for the one-day series at home against Zimbabwe
and was subsequently banned for indiscipline when Bangladesh toured last
month for five one-day games.
In this background and given his fitness record, experts believe the fast bowler
could be in for a real test when eventually he does play for the Kolkata
Knight Riders team on May 8.
"I am happy he has had his ban suspended and this allows him to play in
the IPL. But as a former test pacer I know how difficult it is getting back
into rhythm and match form if you haven't played for six months," former
Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz said.
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