Controversial pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar did not appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board appointed doctor who examined the fitness of three other bowlers ahead of the team's tour of India.
Sports physician Meesaq Rizvi, who has been included in the PCB Medical Commission as a visiting member, had on Thursday called Shoaib and three other bowlers -- Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Mohammad Khalil - for the fitness test.
With the Indian tour set to begin on February 25, the team is looking depleted because of the fitness problems with four frontline bowlers.
Shoaib, who is already facing an inquiry for allegedly breaching the central contract during the Australian tour, is suffering from a hamstring injury and his non-appearance might further anger the PCB officials.
He, however, appeared before the inquiry committee on Thursday to explain his position about the charges levelled on him by the PCB, a report in the local daily Dawn said.
Shoaib's personal doctor Tauseef Razzaq, who had examined the bowler soon after he came back from Australia due to fitness problems, had reportedly said the paceman needed four weeks to recover, making his availability for the India tour doubtful.
{{/usCountry}}Shoaib's personal doctor Tauseef Razzaq, who had examined the bowler soon after he came back from Australia due to fitness problems, had reportedly said the paceman needed four weeks to recover, making his availability for the India tour doubtful.
{{/usCountry}}However, Sami, who was suffering from a heel injury had been given a fitness certificate. Shabbir needed three more weeks to be fully ready for international cricket. Shabbir, who underwent knee surgery in South Africa in September last started bowling from Monday.