Injury delays Akhtar debut

Shoaib Akhtar is suffering from a side strain

Nottinghamshire's overseas star Shoaib Akhtar has been forced to put his debut on hold, after failing a fitness test at Trent Bridge.

The Pakistani paceman, reputed to be the fastest bowler in the world, was named in the squad of 13 for Wednesday's County Championship match against Worcestershire.

But a side strain, which ruled him out of last week's match against Warwickshire, has once again kept him out of the starting line-up.

Akhtar admitted recently that he almost gave up the sport when he was temporarily suspended after the legality of his bowling action was questioned during the 1999 tour of Australia.

However, he was initially reinstated for the triangular one day series with Australia and India and then totally cleared by an International Cricket Council enquiry in February this year.