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Shabbir ruled out of Indian tour
But Pakistani selectors deferred a decision on the possible inclusion of express pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar for the last few ODIs until Sunday.
Pakistani cricket selectors have dropped the plan to send seamer Shabbir Ahmed to India for the last two one-dayers of the ongoing Indo-Pak series, but deferred a decision on Shoaib Akhtar until Sunday.
"Shabbir has bowled well but his match fitness is not upto international standards. He is playing alternate matches in domestic one-day games as part of his comeback because extra burden could break him down again and this time it might be more serious," a selector said on condition of anonymity.
The selectors had earlier hoped that Shabbir might be flown for the Kanpur and New Delhi one-dayers after he played three 50-over-a-side games and one Twenty20 match against Leicestershire inside 10 days.
His individual performances in the matches apart, Shabbir looked a little rusty but did not show any signs of knee discomfort that had sidelined him since August last year.
However, the selector added that the decision on Shoaib would be taken on Sunday when the fast bowler would appear in a domestic one-day match for Khan Research Laboratory at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
"Chairman of selectors Wasim Bari will watch the match and will also talk to trainer Grant Compton and the bowler himself regarding his fitness level," the selector said.
"But I am not very optimistic that Shoaib Akhtar will join the team in India for two simple reasons.
"One, he has played just one game as compared to Shabbir who has played four but is still not match fit, and two, the team management has not yet asked for any reinforcement," he added.
While Shabbir broke down with knee injury in the Netherlands, Shoaib's Australian tour was reduced because of a hamstring injury that also forced him to withdraw from the Indian tour.
But Shoaib made an impressive comeback on Wednesday when he had figures of 7-1-22-4.
"Shoaib Akhtar will also rest on Friday and will play on Sunday. It is a clear indication that we are not in a hurry to rush the comeback of the two fast bowlers because more important cricket lay ahead this year," he said.
Pakistan will tour the West Indies for two Tests and five One-Day Internationals between June 7 and July 8.
Pakistan will then host England in November for three Tests and five one-dayers, though the PCB has requested the England and Wales Cricket Board to play four Tests and three One-Day Internationals.
