Shoaib back to the cricket ground
Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar today resumed his cricket career by playing in a first class domestic game -- his first match in five months since being banned for a doping offence.
The speedster bowled five overs conceding 12 runs while playing for KRL in Patrons Trophy as he slowly eased himself back into competitive cricket.
KRL was bowled out for 127 with Shoaib making the second highest score of 28 runs.
Shoaib and new ball partner Mohammad Asif were cleared of a doping offence and had their bans revoked this month by a Pakistan Cricket Board appointed appeals tribunal.
Both are scheduled to play in Pakistan's Twenty20 tournament from December 21 but Pakistan's foreign coach Bob Woolmer made it clear they would have to find full fitness and form before being considered for selection to the national team.
"I don't want to speculate on their fitness right now. But they are strong contenders for the coming tour of South Africa. I would like to see them play domestic games and gain full fitness before the World Cup," Woolmer said.
Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar today resumed his cricket career by playing in a first class domestic game -- his first match in five months since being banned for a doping offence.
The speedster bowled five overs conceding 12 runs while playing for KRL in Patrons Trophy as he slowly eased himself back into competitive cricket.
KRL was bowled out for 127 with Shoaib making the second highest score of 28 runs.
Shoaib and new ball partner Mohammad Asif were cleared of a doping offence and had their bans revoked this month by a Pakistan Cricket Board appointed appeals tribunal.
Both are scheduled to play in Pakistan's Twenty20 tournament from December 21 but Pakistan's foreign coach Bob Woolmer made it clear they would have to find full fitness and form before being considered for selection to the national team.
"I don't want to speculate on their fitness right now. But they are strong contenders for the coming tour of South Africa. I would like to see them play domestic games and gain full fitness before the World Cup," Woolmer said.