Despite being ignored for the home one-day series against Zimbabwe on fitness grounds and dropped from the central contracts list, express bowler Shoaib Akhtar declared nothing was more important to him than playing for his country."I have no problems if they don't give me a contract. I don't need one to play for Pakistan. Playing for my country is a far bigger honour than anything else and I don't just play for money," he told reporters.Shoaib had gone into hibernation since returning from India with the board officials saying they had no contact with him at all.But Shoaib has finally came out of his self-imposed hibernation and showed up for a training session at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.The board was also unhappy when the fast bowler considered an offer to act in Bollywood.Shoaib categorically denied signing a contract to act in any Indian film and insisted playing for Pakistan was his biggest goal and honour."When I have not signed anything why are they making a big issue of it. Someone spoke to me and that is all. As an individual I can consider many things but cricket remains my top priority," he said.Shoaib said he was preparing for the coming home series against Australia and playing against Zimbabwe would have helped him a lot."I could have got valuable match practice. But I am not the first senior player to be dropped. Wasim and Waqar were also dropped in the past. So I can live with it."He also dismissed talk of his being indisciplined and not a team man."I played in the Kolkata Test in sickness. I was advised rest yet I played for the team and if playing in sickness is considered indiscipline what can I say," Shoaib said.He insisted he had no issues with anyone and was happy to just play for Pakistan and be ready for Australia."I am looking forward to that series and I am preparing for it. Australia is the best team in the world and the benchmark for evaluating your performances. The coming series would be tough as the pitches are slow in our country."
