Akhtar available for Afro-Asia Cup

“But now I am available and I am keen to play and do well. The series is a good platform for me to make a strong comeback,” Akhtar said. Akhtar is only one of three Pakistani players picked in the Asian squad, the other two being Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Asif.

“I am fit now and I have also been consulting with Wasim Akram and Imran Khan on how best to preserve myself and keep myself in top shape for future assignments. They have been of great help.” Akhtar said he had also given his availability for Pakistan’s one-day games against India and Scotland in June in Edinburgh.

The pacer has played just one Test and four one-day internationals since he played in the Karachi Test against India in February last year and has struggled with a knee injury and then a dope offence when he and Asif tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone last October and were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India.

Shoaib, who missed the World Cup due to fitness problems, said he had no problems with the doping issue as he had been cleared by the appellate panel of the board. “I don’t think anyone can force me to give any tests now as I am cleared. But if required I will do it as I have nothing to fear or hide,” he said.

Akhtar said he had been training hard for his comeback and wanted to play for a couple of more years internationally. “I opted to give the Abu Dhabi series against Sri Lanka a miss because I was not match fit but now I have trained hard and things are different.”