Former Australian Test cricket opener Michael Slater is set to announce his retirement here tomorrow. A press conference has been scheduled where Slater is expected to call it a day. Slater’s career has been in danger of finishing for the past six months after he was hospitalised with reactive arthritis in December. Unable to walk for some time because of the disease, Slater took no part in the latter half of the Australian season for New South Wales. At 34, he would have trouble forcing his way back in the NSW line-up and his hopes of a Test recall have vanished. Shoaib says he is fitISLAMABAD: Controversy-prone Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has urged selectors to reconsider their decision of resting him for the Asia Cup next month, saying he was fit and raring to have a go. “I am making a satisfactory recovery from my rib cage injury and it is not giving me any serious problems now. I am keen to play in the Asia Cup if the board reconsider their advice to the selectors,” said Shoaib, who is currently playing for English county Durham. The PCB had advised the selectors not to consider Shoaib for selection for Asia Cup, starting in Sri Lanka on July 16, as he was not fully fit. ‘We’ve to prepare better’KINGSTON: West Indies captain Brian Lara has said his team needs to prepare better if it hopes to regain its former position as one of Test cricket’s elite teams. “Great teams take the lead. We are not a great team as yet and are far from,” Lara said. “We allow the opposition to sort of steer the series in the direction they want and when we get familiar with the opposition, then we take action.” “We need to cross a lot of hurdles off the field before we get on the field,” Lara said. “Things like fitness levels, intensity at training must be very, very hard. I prefer a team that’s working very hard.” (Agencies)
