Akhtar to train with W'shire county club

The Pak bowler was ruled out of the team for the England tour due to an ankle stress fracture.

Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will practice with Warwickshire county club in his attempt to regain fitness.

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Akhtar, who was left out of the Pakistan squad for the tour of England due to an ankle stress fracture, will arrive at Edgbaston at the weekend and to play club cricket.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahriyar Khan said the county side would organise two matches for the speedster to help him regain his form.

"Shoaib will be training at Edgbaston and they will try to arrange a couple of club matches to help him come back from his injury," Shahriyar said.

Shahriyar said since the weather in Pakistan was not suitable for match practice, Akhtar would train in England.

"He is improving quickly but needs match practice and the weather in Pakistan right now is not conducive to him playing there."

"It is either too hot or raining. So he will train in England and will be checked up by our medical team over here to see when he is ready to return to the team," the PCB top boss said.

If the 30-year-old bowler makes satisfactory progress, he may play in either the fourth Test at The Oval on August 17 or in the five-match one-day series from August 30.

Akhtar is likely to be included in the Pakistan team for a two-day match against West Indies A at Shenley on August 12.