Pak's Shoaib Akhtar keen to return vs Australia

Controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar is keen to make a comeback to the Pakistan team, which is gearing up to take on world champions Australia in a one-day series next month.

Akhtar feels the Australians could be beaten this time considering their shambolic performances against India and South Africa in recent series.

"I am working hard and training hard because we have some top series coming up in the next few months and I want to be part of the team. My knee is holding up well and it is a matter of getting into my bowling rhythm," he said.

Akhtar has played a handful of Tests and one-day internationals since February 2006 because of disciplinary and fitness issues.

Akhtar seems to have impressed national selector with his fitness and form during a match of the national one-day championship in Rawalpindi.

Saleem Jaffer was specially deputed to go and watch Akhtar play in the match on Friday.

"He appears to have lost weight and is working hard," Jaffer said insisting any final decision on Shoaib's inclusion in the team for the forthcoming one-day series against Australia would be made after consulting the other selectors and team management.

"Everyone agrees that Shoaib is an experienced bowler with a good track record but we have to be sure about his match fitness for such a big series as he has been in and out of the team for the last two years," Jaffer said.

Sources said that Pakistan captain Younis Khan want Akhtar and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who is contracted with the Indian Cricket League, to be included in the team for the matches against Australia.

"Younis feels that with Pakistan due to play Australia and then the Twenty20 World Cup it would be good if both senior players were in the squad," one source said.

In 2007, Akhtar was banned for 13-matches by the cricket board for getting into a fight with teammate Mohammad Asif while last year he was banned for five years for violating his probation period. An appellate tribunal reduced the ban to 18-months which Shoaib has challenged in the Lahore High Court, which has suspended the ban until further hearing to the case.

The fast bowler made a come back to Pakistan's one-day team in January against Sri Lanka after a gap of nearly 14-months but struggled with his fitness and form and was eventually being dropped for the final match at Lahore. He also withdrew from the Test series against Sri Lanka later on claiming he had been advised rest for a nagging knee problem.