Related Link : Pakistan in England 2006
Shoaib Akhtar has made his return to the Pakistan Side but against West Indies A in a practice One Day game at Shenley. What was supposed to be a two-day match was converted into two limited overs matches and yesterday’s first game ended in a draw due to rain and bad light interruptions. However enough play was possible to see the Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar bowl 11 overs and taking the wicket of West Indies Test Discard Devon Smith in the fifth delivery of the match. Shoaib ended with figures of 1 for 59 in 11 overs. Samiullah Khan, the left arm pacer was the most successful bowler picking up three wickets in his 6 overs. West Indies A did well to put up 214 for 4 with their innings coming to a close after 40 overs. Opening batsman Lendl Simmons scored an unbeaten century and Dwayne Smith scored an unbeaten half century. Abdul Razzaq, the stand in Skipper had won the toss and elected to field with clear intentions that the Pakistani camp wanted Shoaib to get into the action straightaway.
In reply, Pakistan made 123 for the loss of three wickets in 22 overs before the match was called off due to bad weather. Imran Farhat remained unbeaten on a 43-ball 62 which was laced with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Mohammad Hafeez who was flown into join the squad for The Oval Test failed falling for just 9. Weather permitting on Sunday, Shoaib Akhtar will come out and bowl once again to show how well he has progressed since his return from injury. Even if Shoaib Akhtar does bowl in tomorrow’s limited overs match, he may not be playing the fourth and final Test Match with the team management not interested in risking its fast bowler in an already lost Test Series.
Brief Scores: West Indies A 214/4 in 40 Ovs (Lendl Simmons 108* Dwayne Smith 55* Runako Morton 44, Samiullah Khan Niazi 3/30) drew with Pakistanis 123/3 in 22 Ovs (Imran Farhat 62* Faisal Iqbal 22*, Richard Kelly 2/27)