PCB asks for medical report on Shoaib

The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked coach Intikhab Alam to submit a medical report on pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar's latest health problem which has forced him to miss the high-altitude conditioning camp in Bhurban.

A senior board official said that Intikhab has been told to submit a copy of medical report on Akhtar who has said to has developed a skin infection near his groin area and has been advised rest for seven to eight days by doctors.

"We want to have a look at the medical report because players are supposed to attend the conditioning camp which is primarily meant to check their fitness and endurance levels ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup," Saleem Altaf, PCB's chief operating officer said.

Questions have been raised over the timing of Shoaib's health problem as the team management had made it clear that players would undergo a rigorous physical routine in the conditioning camp on the run up to World Cup starting on June 5 in England.

Many former players and critics still have doubts over the fitness of the cricketer, who in the recent ODI series against Australia took just three wickets in four matches and didn't bowl even a single 10-over spell.

Despite concerns over his fitness, selectors have included him in the World Cup-bound squad.

Meanwhile, Altaf said that the PCB was seriously mulling over not sending off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who was reported for suspect bowling action during the second ODI against Australia in Dubai, to the T20 World Cup.

"Elliot is supposed to send a report based on the tests to the ICC in 14-days time maximum but he can do it earlier. So we are waiting to see what happens. But we are also pondering the possibility of pulling him out of the World Cup and including a reserve player," Altaf said.

The names of spinners Abdul Rehman and Danish Kaneria, who is playing for Essex county in England, are said to be under consideration to replace Ajmal whose doosra delivery has came under scrutiny.