Akhtar released, Malik and Misbah to undergo fitness test

Kolkata, Nov 28 (UNI) Rawalpindi express Shoiab Akhtar was released from hospital at 8 PM tonight, but he was uncertain to play the second Test commencing November 30 at Eden Gardens.

Akhtar looked groggy and a little under the weather as he made his way to the hotel room.

Pakistan team's Media Manager Ehsan Mallik told UNI that Akhtar was on a lot of anti-biotics and he was still feeling its impact.

However, the problem was gone, team manager Talat Ali said adding, ''Akhtar will take a good night's rest and then we will decide about him.'' Asked whether Akhtar would practise tomorrow, Ali told reporters, ''He will certainly go the ground and he will bowl only if he is able to do so. The decision of his playing the match will be taken later on.'' On skipper Shoaib Malik's firness, Ali said, ''Malik will have to undergo fitness test after which we will be able to talk about his participation in the match.'' Malik was seen hobbling around with visible pain in his injured ankle, sustained in the first Test match at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

Ali said Malik underwent MRI scan and it was found that it was Grade One sprain.

About Misbah-ul-Haq, Ali said he was better, but he would also have to undergo fitness test tomorrow.

With its key players in the injured and indisposed list, the woe of Pakistan camp, desperate to win the second Test after the six-wicket loss to India in the first Test in New Delhi, simply overflowed.

UNI