Pakistan seem likely to have to do without ace paceman Shoaib Akhtar for at least tomorrow's and possibly Sunday's National Bank series One-Day Internationals with New Zealand.

Shoaib Akhtar Photo Photosport

The controversial paceman re-ignited the throwing controversy surrounding his bowling action with claims that he never changed it after being suspended last summer. He also criticised the New Zealand match referee John Reid, and then attacked Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming before sustaining a thigh injury during Thursday's game in Napier, which Pakistan lost.

Shoaib even got to the point of pulling faces at Fleming after bowling two no ball bouncers for the first two deliveries he sent down to the New Zealand skipper.

But Akhtar had hardly warmed up before he was limping from the field, and he is unlikely to be risked in tomorrow's third game in Wellington.

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said today that there was no point in risking him at this stage when there are more important Test matches still to be played in New Zealand.

It is likely that if Pakistan can win the next two ODIs that Akhtar will not be seen again in the one-day games.

But if the series is tied up at 2-2 going into the last game in Dunedin there may be a temptation to bring him back in a bid to win the series.

© CricInfo