Shoaib Akhtar demands an explanation

Shoaib Akhtar has admitted to being heartbroken after being left out of Pakistan's team for their tour of the West Indies, and says he needs to be told the exact reason for his omission. Akhtar says he is confused about whether he was dropped on fitness grounds, or whether disciplinary concerns had caused his omission.

"What puzzles me the most is that nobody is willing to tell me whether I have been dropped on fitness grounds or disciplinary reasons or for not appearing before PCB's medical commission to prove fitness," said Shoaib in an interview with the Press Trust of India. "I am disappointed and heartbroken. I had conveyed my availability because I was convinced that I was fit."

Shoaib said he was willing to take his exclusion in his stride, but felt that the authorities owed him an explanation. "The final decision regarding the composition of the team is the selectors', and if they don't want to select me, I respect that," he said. "But I want to know why I have been left out and they [the selectors] owe me that."

Inzamam-ul-Haq had set off a minor storm by hinting at Shoaib's disciplinary problems, but he countered those comments by saying: "No-one can question or doubt my commitment to the team. In the last 15-odd Tests, I have taken nearly 80 wickets and have bowled my heart out. Internationally, I am tagged as a hard worker and someone who wants to perform and that's why people love me.

"I am heartbroken but that doesn't mean that I have given up. I have now not only set myself a target to play in the year-ender against England, I now want to bowl Pakistan to a series victory."