The old feud between Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan and Shoaib Akhtar resurfaced on Friday, with the former giving the express fast bowler a dressing down for his off-field behaviour on the tour of Australia and asking him prove his fitness ahead of the India tour.
Khan "summoned Shoaib Akhtar to his office [today] and had a hard talk with him ... regarding his attitude and conduct during Pakistan team's tour of Australia," the PCB said in a statement from Islamabad.
"The chairman told Shoaib to explain his conduct in writing by Monday, February 7, 2005. The chairman told Shoaib that unless he was fully fit, he would not be considered a candidate for selection for the Indian tour," the statement said.
Khan's action comes amid media reports that some of the team members do not want Shoaib return to the team.
Shoaib was recalled from Australia midway through the tour few weeks ago on grounds that he should nurse his injuries before the Indian tour and attain fitness.
The PCB earlier defended him following reports and publication of photographs of him visiting night clubs.
But Khan also had a public spat with Shoaib in early 2004 when he said the bowler deliberately did not take the field in the deciding Test against India in Rawalpindi.
Khan suspected that Shoiab feigned injury and let the team down at the most crucial juncture and launched a medical enquiry.
But the report of the enquiry commission proved that Shoaib did have a tear in the ribcage.
