Back in contention, Akhtar raring to go

Akhtar was named among 19 probables announced for trial matches to select the Pakistan team yesterday.

Middle-order batsman Ijaz Ahmed and former captains Aamir Sohail and Rashid Latif were not considered for selection.

Pakistan will tour New Zealand from February 17 to play five one-day internationals and three Tests. ‘‘I think with the grace of the almighty my fitness nightmares are over and I will be enjoying active cricket again,’’ the 25-year-old said.

Akhtar missed Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies in May last year and his failure to regain fitness cancelled his lucrative contract with English county Nottinghamshire.

‘‘I am thankful to the Pakistan Cricket Board and its chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia for taking full care of me and giving me full facilities,’’ he said.

The 19 will play five one-day trial matches between January 26 and February 2 before the final squad is announced.

Squad: Moin Khan, Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Salim Elahi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhanna, Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram, Abdur Razzaq, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood, Mushtaq Ahmed, Yasir Arafat, Fazle Akbar, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan and Arshad Khan.