KARACHI, Dec 31: Pakistan’s controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar got the axe for the challenging tour of South Africa at the behest of skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, sources close to the Pakistan cricket team disclosed on Sunday.

“Inzamam is clearly playing a double game with the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ here,” said a former board official, requesting anonymity. “The skipper has not been too keen on the inclusion of Shoaib in the first place, niether for the South African tour nor for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbeans,” he added.

According to sources, while the burly Multan-born player has more than welcomed the comeback of doping-tainted Mohammad Asif into the Pakistan side, his response towards Shoaib has been a lukewarm one since the lifting of the ban.

A number of players, fans and groundsmen were witness to how Inzamam avoided speaking to Shoaib at the Lahore cricket camp recently and did not have many encouraging words to say for the struggling fast bowler. “He just would not communicate with him (Shoaib) during the camp and that was obviously quite disturbing for the fast bowler who repeatedly walked upto him for a chat or an advice,” said one of the groundsmen employed at the Gaddafi Stadium.

“Shoaib did work up a fair pace on the last few days at the camp and was eager to regain his place in the side but, apparently, he has dropped out of Inzy’s good books for now.”

Several former players and critics have also lashed out at the selectors and the PCB for omitting the world’s fastest bowler from the all-important tour where not only are the pitches and condition conducive to pace bowling but Shoaib also boasts an impressive record in the region.

Even coach Bob Woolmer was recently quoted as saying that he would prefer a half-fit, out-of-form Shoaib to the luckless Mohammad Sami whose record is one of the worst in international cricket.

Sources said that Shoaib himself appeared absolutely puzzled by Inzamam’s attitude towards him of late and his meetings with chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf have also failed to bear any fruit.

“The PCB chief is also changing colours like a chameleon now,” said a prominent cricket analyst-cum-commentator from Lahore. “His (Dr Ashraf’s) poor handling of the doping issue as well as the recent somersault act on reappointing Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach lay bare the chinks in his administrative armour.”

Former South African players Allan Donald and Daryll Cullinan also expressed their surprise at the shock omission of Shoaib Akhtar recently during the Durban Test against India and called for Pakistan selectors to have a rethink on the decision.

“Which team can afford to leave out a bowler of Shoaib’s calibre and pace?” asked Donald while commenting on Pakistan’s chances on the tour. “If he is available and fit, he should be the prime candidate for the series because of the faster, bouncier tracks here. Smith’s men must be feeling quite relieved with the announcement indeed,” said Donald, the most successful fast bowler ever to have played for Proteas.

If reports from within the team and sources close to the board are to believed, Inzamam has been clearly uncomfortable with the stardom that Shoaib invariably commands in international media and his independent moves as well as publicity stunts have never gone down well the skipper.