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Cricket

Surrey's move for Akhtar could be off

04/09/2008

Shoaib Akhtar's move to Surrey could be off after the home office decided he could not play for the county with his current visa.

The Pakistan star was hoping to play for Surrey in their last three county championship games of the season, but he will need to get a work visa. Akhtar holds a visa which allows him to visit England but he may not be able to play for Surrey as it may take too long for him to obtain a work visa.

Akhtar was still was still optimistic of playing for Surrey saying "I am hopeful of getting a work visa soon and hope to fly back to England on Saturday", but Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon seemed less confident of signing the fast bowler.

"We did everything we could to get him here, but it hasn't worked out. We thought he'd make an impact as he wanted to get his career up and running again," said Sheldon.

Akhtar is looking to reignite his career after a number of controversies which have blighted his career. He has been the centre of a failed drugs test and was earlier this year banned for five years from cricket for criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The 33-yar-old had his ban overturned on appeal and is now hoping to prove his form and fitness with Surrey so he can play for Pakistan again.