Shoaib finally turns up for training

Amid frenzied debate surrounding his form, fitness, discipline and commitment, Shoaib Akhtar finally turned up to the national training camp in Lahore on Sunday - two days after it began.

There was some confusion about where he had been; some reports cited Dubai while others said he had stayed back in Australia for a charity dinner. Cricinfo has learnt that board officials had been made aware of the delay in Shoaib's travel plans although this is unlikely to have enamoured him any further to either Bob Woolmer or Inzamam-ul-Haq, who have stressed repeatedly this week the need for Shoaib to prove his fitness and commitment.

Woolmer declined to comment on Shoaib's late arrival but said that Shoaib had taken part in the team workout on a light day of training. "He bowled for 24 minutes after coming straight from the airport but I don't want to comment on how he is looking based on that. We will get a clearer idea of that in the days to come. I want to help him play in the Pakistan team."

An ex-Test player also said that Shoaib was wrecking his own future. "With all the fuss over him in the last week, how on earth does he have the gall to turn up late to a national training camp? He isn't a certainty to be picked and that should have motivated him further but he is clearly not interested in turning out for Pakistan."

Imran Khan yesterday joined a growing chorus of concern over Shoaib's future, arguing that at 30, the England series represents a make-or-break opportunity for him. Last week, John Elliot, the Worcestershire chairman, launched a scathing attack on Shoaib, accusing him of being a destructive influence in the dressing room and uncommitted to the club this season.

Shoaib hasn't played for Pakistan since January this year and in his performances during the Super Series failed to make any sort of impact. With the return to fitness of Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul, the return to action of Shabbir Ahmed and the emergence of bowlers such as Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar and Mohammad Khalil, Shoaib faces stiffer competition than ever before to make the starting line-up for the England series.