LAHORE, Jan 16: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf on Wednesday said Shoaib Malik may still be leading Pakistan in the home series against Zimbabwe since he is making all-out efforts to get fit for the contest.

Speaking to reporters after spending almost an hour in the ongoing national training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium, the PCB chairman said that Malik will be tested by the PCB medical committee before the final team selection.

“Malik told me that he is working hard at the training camp and has assured me that he will only play if 100 per cent fit,” he said.

The chairman said he also had a chat over Malik’s fitness with the team trainer David Dwyer. “Malik’s own statement that he will prefer to leave this series if he is not fully fit is most important. Saying so, the captain has set an example for the others,” said Dr Ashraf.

Although Malik on Tuesday had hinted at missing the Zimbabwe series due to fitness problems, it is now being said that he may want to play after all since he would like to lead the team to victory against the minnows which will improve his record as captain.

Commenting on PCB’s controversial decision of ignoring the two leading fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul, the chairman said: “The decision of not calling the bowlers is based on the team management’s report of the last Indian tour which suggests that a fast bowler, after being unfit, can only be included in the squad after proving his match fitness in a first class game. So both Shoaib and Gul will have to play in the Pentangular Cup.”

Denying reports about Shoaib Akhtar not getting the central contract, Dr Ashraf said: “I don’t know which PCB official is giving out such press statements about Shoaib Akhtar’s central contract. The central contract is at the top of the agenda in the next meeting of the Governing Board [to be held on Jan 25] and it is premature to make any comments about it,” he said.

The chairman also dispelled the impression that there is any rift between the captain and the national selection committee. “Both Malik and chief selector Salahuddin held a very positive meeting in Karachi last week and honoured each others views on calling the boys in the training camp,” he said.

The chairman also praised the selection committee. “All youngsters picked by the selectors for the four-day game against Zimbabwe delivered and I personally feel that they are a good backup for the national team.”

Talking about Mohammad Yousuf’s case in India where the arbitration court in its ruling has already ordered the prolific player not to represent the PCB-recognised Indian Premier League (IPL) starting in April, the PCB chief said that Yousuf’s lawyer and the PCB’s council will plead his case in India on Jan 24.

The chairman added that the PCB’s decision of imposing a ban on six Pakistani cricketers from playing domestic cricket for links with the ICL will also be put before the Governing Board soon.

When asked why the PCB was building another Test centre in Islamabad after starting renovation work at the Pindi Stadium which is located just 10 kilometres away, the chairman said that the board was not spending anything on the Islamabad stadium as the project will be handled by a UAE-based sponsor.

“We have already restored the international cricket stadiums in Hyderabad and Sheikhupura and more steps will be taken to increase the infrastructure,” he concluded.