Islamabad, Mar 24 : Pakistan's chief selector Abdul Qadir has said that pacer Shoaib Akhtar can return to Pakistan duty if he proves his fitness over the next few days.

He said the selectors have been keeping an eye on Akhtar's performance to decide whether he can be brought back into the team for the one-dayers against Australia.

Qadir pointed out that Shoaib recently gave a good showing in a one-day game, which he said was a good sign.

Meanwhile, Akhtar said: "For now I am preparing to play against Australia in the ODIs next month and take wickets for my country."

He also described as a shame for Indian fans that the Indian Premier League will not be played in India.

Akhtar expressed hope that the IPL's impending move to South Africa or England could pave the way for Pakistani players to return to the lucrative Twenty20 tournament.

In an interview to a cricket website, Shoaib said he and fellow Pakistani cricketers were hopeful of an eleventh-hour call-up to the IPL, now that the tournament seems destined to be shifted out of India.

"For me, it is not over till it''s over. I haven''t given up. It''s up to the franchises. If they call upon my services, I will provide them," Akhtar said. (ANI)