Shoaib to prove form, fitness in special trial matches

Shoaib to prove form, fitness in special trial matches
Karachi, Jan 30 (PTI) Mercurial Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar will get another chance to prove his fitness for Test cricket during two special trial matches to be organised by the PCB next month.The first match would be held in Karachi from February 3 to 7 and the second in Lahore from the February 10 between two teams that would include all the top Pakistan probables and top performers in domestic cricket."These teams would be selected by the national selection committee and would form the main criteria for selecting the test team for the coming series against Sri Lanka," a selector said.He said Shoaib would be asked to play both the matches to prove his form and fitness and be considered for the Test matches.Interestingly while Shoaib will be asked to play another pacer Umar Gul will miss the first game as he has been advised rest to recover from some niggling fitness problem.The trial matches have been specially arranged on the instructions of chief selector Abdul Qadir.Shoaib came in for criticism from his former captain Shoaib Malik for his poor performance in the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in which the fast bowler made a comeback to ODIs after a gap of 14-months.Malik, who has now been replaced by Younis Khan, had questioned Shoaib's ability and fitness. PTI