LAHORE - Pakistan's flamboyant fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar finally climbed onboard a plane for London from here on Monday to join the team - five days and a three-day match later than was scheduled.

Akhtar was given a clean bill of health last Saturday after the results of medical tests cleared doubts about his fitness.

Whether he would be playing the second three-day game against Derbyshire on Tuesday was a point of conjecture. After this match, there is only one more three-day warm-up game against Kent, from May 12, before the first Test at Lord's on May 17.

When this scribe talked to him on the eve of his departure, Akhtar seemed all keyed up to join the action. "I am keen to leave behind sickness and controversy and to play cricket and bowl fast", said he, in his characteristic exuberant style.

Akhtar sounded grateful to the England captain, Nasser Hussain, for his support and particularly to the PCB Chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia for his continued belief in him.
The former had recently made a public statement, asking all concerned to leave the speedster alone while the latter had taken a lot of personal interest in his rehabilitation, both in terms of physical fitness and getting his bowling action cleared.

On whether he was excited about being a major draw card in England, just as he was during the 1999 World Cup, Shoaib Akhtar said that while it is good to have spectator support, he would "prefer to play for the team than to play to the gallery".

He said that he was looking forward to getting "a spot in the team, taking wickets and having a hand in beating England in England".

On his frequent breakdowns and his penchant for pace, he had this to offer: "It's not just me, there are not many fast bowlers who have gone through their careers without a major injury or two. It is an occupational hazard. But I've improved my training regimen, and I hope that bowling fast spells consistently would not inflict the same kind of wear and tear that it did before."

"As far as my being inclined to bowl fast, well, I'm a fast bowler and pace is my main weapon. Why shouldn't I want to bowl fast?"

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