Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the third cricket Test against Australia starting at Sharjah from Saturday. Team manager Brig (retd) Khawaja Mohammad Nasir said Shoaib had a minor back niggle that forced the team management to decide not to risk him in the third Test.

"Since we have a long tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa ahead, we decided to rest him from the third Test and instead send him back. He is leaving for Lahore in the wee hours of Saturday," Brig Nasir said in a statement.

The manager said Shoaib would be available for selection for the tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Pakistan cricket team leaves for Zimbabwe on November 1 where it will play two Tests and five one-day internationals. The team will reach South Africa on December 2 where it will also play two Tests and five one-day internationals before returning home on January 7, 2003.

Allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a fracture in his left wrist, will also return home in the wee hours of Monday.


Samiul Hasan
G.M (Media)
October 18, 2002

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