Shoaib to miss England tour opener

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss Pakistan's opening tour match in England after a stomach upset prevented him flying in with the rest of the team on Wednesday.

The director of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Munawwar Rana, told Reuters from Lahore that Akhtar would join the team later.

"He feels dehydrated. He will undergo a series of tests in the next couple of days before his date of departure is confirmed," Rana said.

Paistan face British Universities in a three-day game starting in Nottingham on Friday before meeting England at Lord's from May 17 in the first of two Tests.

Rana was optimistic that Akhtar's illness would not rule him out of the third Test series in a row.

"We are confident that he will come through. The initial reports are that the stomach upset was because of some viral inflection," he said.

"We are carrying out Tests to be sure that there was nothing serious," Rana said.

Akhtar has not played competitive cricket since limping off with a hamstring injury in the last one-day international against New Zealand at Dunedin on February 28.

He also failed to complete the West Indies tour in April last year.

ABNORMAL ARM

Pakistan on Tuesday moved to end the controversy surrounding Akhtar by publishing a report which said his bowling action had always been legal because he had an "abnormal" arm.

The PCB confirmed that Akhtar, who has twice been reported for throwing, had agreed to remodel his action.

But it said the main reason was because he wanted to reduce the risk of injury, not because his action was faulty.

But the inclusion of Akhtar, who was named in a 17-strong squad, means the first half of the English summer will certainly not be controversy free.

Akhtar has twice been reported for a suspect bowling action. He was first cited in November 1999 in the Perth test against Australia by Darrell Hair and Englishman Peter Willey.

The International Cricket Council last week confirmed that the two men would officiate in the first test at Lord's -- a decision which would not please either Akhtar or Pakistan.

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis said his team was geared up for the demanding tour ahead.

"It is not going to be simple. England have their tails up and I must admit they have played some excellent cricket, a lot better than we have," he said.

"But I am confident that my boys will rise to the occasion."

England have won their last three test series -- against West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Last year's triumph over West Indies was their first against the Caribbean side for 31 years.

In contrast, Pakistan lost two home series in 2000, while winning against Sri Lanka. This year, they were held to a one-all draw in New Zealand.

Pakistan have won the test series on their three previous tours to England in 1987, 1992 and 1996.

Mail Cricket Editor