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Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to let fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar play in the English County Championship.
"He (Akhtar) had requested for a No Objection Certificate, which we have issued to him, and we have no problems if he wants to play in county cricket," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said on Tuesday.
Akhtar, who has not played first class cricket since a test match against India in December, is expected to join English county Surrey.
"Akhtar has not played competitive cricket for months and he needs to regain match fitness," Naghmi said. "We believe a short county stint might help him in doing that."
In the recent past, the PCB had strong reservations over its cricketers competing in county cricket.
"Akhtar's case is a bit different," Naghmi said. "He needs some matches to test his fitness."
Akhtar was the fastest bowler in cricket at his peak, but his 46-test career has been restricted by injuries and discipline breeches.
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