LAHORE :–
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Shoaib Malik refused to give fitness test in front of the probing eyes of media here on Wednesday raising questions about the level of their fitness.
The two players came to the National Cricket Academy to make their case for their selection in the team for the Asia Cup and the England tour but the presence of media irked the two and they refused to undergo fitness test raising doubts about their fitness.
Even the Pakistan Cricket Board was trying to justify the selection of the controversy-prone fast bowler and the all-rounder by supporting their stance.
Upon their refusal to give fitness test in front of media, the PCB also directed the media to leave the academy. The selection of both the players for the Asia Cup depends upon fitness test.
However, the fitness test of both the players was held later and reports said that Akhtar bowled 12 overs to show his rhythm while Malik also gave his test. The fitness test report will be revealed before the selection committee and the chairman will be the sole authority.
But reports said that the officials monitoring the fitness of the players were satisfied about their fitness and that means they have passed the first hurdle for their selection.
Chairman PCB Ijaz Butt, Chief Selector Mohsin Khan, Captain Shahid Afridi and Chief Coach Waqar Younis monitored the players performance.
The selection committee will be meeting today (Thursday) and after consultation with the captain and the coach, they will announce the team with the consent of the chairman. Talking to journalists, chief selector Mohsin Khan said that the selection committee members also watched the fitness test of the players and they will announce the team after discussing with the coach and the captain and the final list will be presented to the chairman for approval. He further said that the likely chance is that the team will be announced for the Asia Cup and the team for the England tour will be named later.
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