Shoaib refuses to play in Patron’s Trophy

Trouble-prone Shoaib Akhtar has refused to follow Pakistan Cricket Board’s directive to play in a first-class Patron’s Trophy Cham...

Trouble-prone Shoaib Akhtar has refused to follow Pakistan Cricket Board’s directive to play in a first-class Patron’s Trophy Championship match starting tomorrow to prove his fitness for the Indian tour.

Sources close to Shoaib said the bowler was “surprised” at the instruction to play in the match as he had been advised rest till February 18 and also because none of the physical trainers would be at hand to assess his fitness. Shoaib, recovering from a hamstring injury, has also sought a meeting with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan to put forward his point of view as he had no intention of resuming playing so soon.

South African trainer Grant Compton, who has been supervising Shoaib’s rehabilitation programme, had told him to rest till February 18 before a fresh assessment of his injury was carried out, the sources were quoted as saying in local daily The News. ‘‘Grant Compton is due to return home on February 18 but Shoaib is surprised at the instructions given to him to play in a first-class match from the 14th,’’ they said. ‘‘Shoaib is also surprised at these instructions since even the foreign trainer and physiotherapist would return only on 18 from South Africa, so he is wondering who is going to assess his fitness even if he plays in the match.’’

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