Lahore, Apr. 12 : Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam is of the view that speedster Shoaib Akhtar should not be pressurized to perform ahead of the forthcoming series against Australia.

"We will be looking closely at Akhtar's fitness and how he comes along in the first match. We don''t want to put extra pressure or burden on him. We will try to nurse him through the series as we have other important competitions coming up as well," The Nation quoted Alam, as saying.

Melbourne, Apr 12 : Adam Gilchrist has backed Indian Premier League teammate Andrew Symonds to continue his rebirth and force his way into Australia''s squad for the Ashes.

Symonds has been picked in Australia''s one-day squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan and the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in signs the selectors are willing to forgive his tumultuous summer.

Gilchrist believes the troubled match winner''s Test career is not over either. Symonds has not represented his country since the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Port Elizabeth, Apr 12 : Fast bowler Stuart Clark has been rushed to join Australia's one-day squad in South Africa as a replacement for injured pace bowler Brett Geeves.

Clark, who missed all six Tests against South Africa this season because of an elbow injury, will arrive in Port Elizabeth before the fourth one-day international against the Proteas.

However it's unlikely Clark, 33, will play in that match, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Islamabad, Apr. 11: The sandy cricket grounds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai has made Pakistan pacers fear for injuries during the forthcoming five match one-day international series against Australia.

“We have to maintain our speed and performance even in these difficult conditions and we are afraid that it would only bring injuries and fitness problems to us,” The Daily Times quoted a Pakistan fast bowler, as saying.

Lahore, Apr. 11 : Pakistan captain Younus Khan has said that his team would beat Australia 5-0 in the forthcoming one day international series in the UAE.

Talking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium here, Khan, while replying to a question said: "No doubt be 5-0, but in favour of Pakistan."

He admitted that Pakistan has not played much international cricket in recent times, and it could affect its performance in the series.

Khan, however, said his team was capable of handing out surprises.

Lahore, Apr. 11: Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has once again come under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-doping scanner ahead of the forthcoming one-day international series against Australia in the UAE.

Sources said Akhtar’s mysterious and sudden increase in fitness levels just weeks after suffering a major knee injury could attract the ICC’s attention.

The ICC has made an International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) which includes top players from the eight leading ODI teams in the world.