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Karachi: Controversial Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will not be considered for the One-day series in Sri Lanka on fitness grounds, interim chief selector Wasim Bari said on Saturday.
Bari, who left for Sri Lanka on Saturday to consult with the team management over the composition of the One-day squad, told Geo News that Akhtar would not be considered for the five limited over matches and a Twenty20 International.
Bari said since Akhtar had only given fitness test but not bowled in the nets, the selectors were not aware of his match fitness.
"Without knowing his match fitness how can we select him for the series. Until he does not play a few matches we cannot be sure of his match fitness," Bari, a former Test captain and now PCB Director Human Resources, said.
Akhtar underwent a fitness test on Friday at National Academy in Lahore but the whole exercise ended in a fiasco. Bari and one of the selectors, Ejaz Ahmed, were apparently not allowed by academy in-charge to conduct the full fitness test and they left without Akhtar doing any bowling in the nets.
Bari said he would speak to Pakistan team management about including Akhtar among the 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy in September in South Africa.
"If he (Akhtar) is in the 30 his fitness can be assessed later on," Bari said.
Pakistan is to finalise its preliminary list of 30 players for the Champions Trophy by July 23.
