Akhtar to miss ODI warmup matches

Injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss the two warm-up matches ahead of the tri-series against Australia and the Windies.

Injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss Pakistan's two practice matches ahead of the limited-overs tri-series against Australia and the West Indies, team officials said on Monday.

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Akhtar received pain-killing injections on Monday for back and hamstring strains which caused him to miss the International Cricket Council's tsunami appeal game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He will not play against Australia A in Wednesday's one-day match, or the Twenty/20 game the following night, both in Adelaide. Team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said he expected Akhtar to be available for Pakistan's first match of the tri-series, against Australia in Hobart on Sunday. The series opens on Friday when Australia takes on the West Indies in Melbourne.

"He's gone to the doctor and he's taken injections today," Inzamam said. "Hopefully, with 72 hours rest, after that he is feeling well."

Inzamam, suffering from a lingering back injury, is not certain of playing in the tri-series.