'Fit Akhtar an asset' | Misbah recovers for T20

Karachi: A key figure in getting Shoaib Akhtar ousted from Pakistan's Twenty20 World Championship squad, coach Intikhab Alam said the controversial pacer would have been an asset had he been fully fit.

"It is unfortunate because if he was fit and in the team he would have been a big asset for us as he is a very experienced and capable bowler," Alam said as the team left for England for the event starting June 5.

Shoaib was withdrawn from the squad due to a skin infection and replaced by Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Shoaib had insisted that he would have recovered in time for the event.

But Intikhab had made it clear that he didn't want an unfit player in the side and had asked the board to drop the fast bowler.

Meanwhile, captain Younis Khan avoided speaking to the media during the departure, preferring to let the coach do the talking.