by Saj Sadiq

26th January 2010

Speaking earlier today to PakPassion.net team mates of Shoaib Akhtar at KRL were quoted as saying that the Rawalpindi Express is determined to prove his critics wrong and very keen to find a spot in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty/20 World Cup which takes place in the Caribbean in April and May of this year.

"We have heard that he will shortly be joining the KRL training camp which started today and will be available for the 50 over domestic competition that starts next month".

Akhtar who last represented Pakistan in May 2009 during a Twenty/20 international against Australia in Dubai, was not present today at the start of the training camp in Rawalpindi, but is expected to join the camp ahead of what he hopes will be a successful domestic stint for KRL.

Akhtar's team mates were also quoted as saying "Akhtar believes he has been written off too soon and by too many and he wants to make a comeback to the national team. He wants to work hard on his fitness and play regularly for KRL in the coming weeks and to take part in the training camp. He feels that he still has something to offer the Pakistan team".

It remains to be seen whether the selectors once again show faith in Akhtar whose career has been dogged by injuries. One cold say that he has had one chance too many, but with Umar Gul struggling for form of late, Akhtar could once again find himslef back in favour.