Pakistan legend Imran backs axed Akhtar

Pakistan cricket legend Imran Khan on Friday backed maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, saying he has been dropped as a "scapegoat" for the team's series loss to India.

Pakistan last week omitted the injury-prone Akhtar from the squad for the five-match one-day series against Zimbabwe, saying the paceman will have to play in domestic matches to prove his fitness.

The 32-year-old fast bowler, nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express," was also criticised for his off-field activities on the tour of India, where Pakistan lost the one-day series 3-2 and Tests 1-0.

"Malice is always a big problem and it's easy to find scapegoats after defeats. But I think if Shoaib Akhtar is fit, he is still head and shoulders above other bowlers," Khan told AFP.

Akhtar took six wickets in the first Test in New Delhi, where Pakistan lost by six wickets. He played the next two Tests but was not at full fitness.

He also showed interest in signing on for a Bollywood film, raising doubts over his cricket future. Akhtar, however, denied he was leaving the sport to join Bollywood.

"I want to play cricket and just showing a little interest in films doesn't mean I am leaving the game. I want to play against Zimbabwe to be ready to face Australia," Akhtar said on Sunday.

Pakistan host Australia in March-April this year.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf has criticised Akhtar's showbusiness leanings, saying a governing body meeting on January 25 may take disciplinary action.

Legendary all-rounder Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, said it would be unjust.

"I was critical of Akhtar in India because he got injured in the last Test, but disciplinary action cannot be taken in retrospect and the team management should have taken it on the tour," said Khan, who played 82 Tests for Pakistan.

Khan said Pakistan can only dispense with Akhtar if they find someone better.

"There were occasions when Akhtar was at his best, even on the India tour, so unless Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul attain peak form and there are adequate replacements you cannot leave out Akhtar," said Khan.

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson also defended Akhtar, saying he never felt let down.

"Unfortunately, he fell ill and (was) then unfit but he was our best bowler and, if fit, we want him against Australia," Lawson said last week.

Khan said Pakistan need to lift the standard of domestic cricket in order to produce quality cricketers.

"The non-competitive first class structure is the bane of Pakistan cricket," he said.

"Misbah-ul Haq's failure to find a place in the national team despite performing well in first class seasons is proof of that and we may have lost a lot of such players in the same way," said Khan.

The first one-day international against Zimbabwe is due to take place in Karachi on January 21.