Karachi: Shoaib Akhtar has been provided with an opportunity to prove his fitness for next month’s England tour when the Pakistan selectors named him in a 21-strong probables’ pool for a preparatory camp in Lahore from Thursday.

The final squad of 16 will be named on June 8.

Paceman Mohammed Sami, middle-order batsman Asim Kamal and opener Taufeeq Umar are back in contention.

Shoaib, who has 165 Test and 199 ODI wickets, has not played international cricket since the final Test of the 2005-06 series between Pakistan and India in Karachi in February this year.

The speedster underwent surgery on both knees and is presently completing a rehabilitation process in Lahore. Akhtar claims he is bowling up to six overs in practice sessions and is regularly clocking 90 mph.

The selectors have exempted Mohammed Asif, Rana Naved-ul Hasan and Shahid Afridi from attending the first phase of the camp as they are playing in the County championship.

THE PROBABLES

Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, Inzamam-ul Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Bazid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Sami, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Mohammed Asif, Umer Gul, Rao Iftikhar.

(PTI)