Shoaib doubtful starter for 2nd ODI against Windies

Shoaib Akhtar's return to the competitive cricket may be delayed further as the Pakistan fast bowler is yet to recover from a calf injury.

Shoaib Akhtar's return to the competitive cricket may be delayed further as the Pakistan fast bowler is yet to recover from a calf injury.

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Shoaib, who missed the first match of the ongoing one-day series against the West Indies, bowled a couple of overs in the nets on Thursday.

Pakistan assistant coach Aaqib Javed said Shoaib himself was the best person to speak about his fitness.

"He has an internal calf injury which is still in bandage so only he can tell us if he fit enough to play the match," Aaqib said from Abu Dhabi.

The former Test pacer said Shoaib would undergo a fitness test before the second match on Friday but sources in the team say his chances of regaining complete fitness were very slim.

"Shoaib is still struggling with the injury and he bowled just four overs in the nets in two spells so he needs time to recover completely," one source told PTI.

Pakistan won the first one-day international against the Windies on Wednesday but their bowling attack struggled to contain the West Indies' batsmen particularly Chris Gayle who scored a superb 113.

Shoaib is making a comeback to Pakistan one-day team after nearly 11 months.

Ejaz Butt, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board appreciated the performance of the team in the first one-dayer but suggested that the coach and captain should not risk playing any player who is not 100 per cent fit.