Shoaib faces disciplinary committee

Strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar is to appear before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary committee on Thursday, two days before the squad to tour India is selected.

Shoaib has been charged with breaching his contract by visiting nightclubs while on tour in Australia at the start of the year, giving press statements without permission and delaying his return to Pakistan despite suffering a hamstring injury.

Justice Amir Alam Khan, heading the disciplinary committee, said on Tuesday that a report would be produced within 24 hours.

The Pakistan selectors meet on Saturday to announce the 16-man squad for India. The tour consists of three Tests and five one-day internationals, with the first Test starting early next month.

Also Read ICC supports Pakistan decision Shoaib will definitely tour India: Inzamam Should A'bad host Pakistan?

Shoaib's hamstring is still a concern and could yet rule him out of the trip. The selectors, involved in a string of rows with the player over his fitness during the past year, had wanted him to play in a domestic match before the tour party was chosen but he opted for more rest.

"All the bowlers who have fitness problems will go through a fitness test on Friday to be supervised by the team's trainer and physiotherapist. Anyone not clearing the tests will not be considered," PCB director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters.

Shoaib has taken 144 Test and 186 one-day international wickets and has been Pakistan's leading bowler since the retirements of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in 2003.

"I am looking forward to touring India," he said. "I'm resting the hamstring strain."