Durham Diary

We members of the Durham press corps have been told he's not available for interview, under instruction from the Pakistan Cricket Board. Yet he has obviously been talking to the press back home to let it be known that a second bone scan confirmed he definitely had a stress fracture of 11th rib cage on the lower left side.

That's not what we were told while he was sitting out the Glamorgan game, and when he travelled to Trent Bridge with the rest of the squad last Monday we were told he was expected to play.

If he has had a stress fracture, there's an obvious case for resting him until the next championship match at home to Yorkshire starting a week tomorrow, but he apparently wants to play in today's totesport League match against Derbyshire at Riverside.

When I asked Martyn Moxon if that meant Shoaib was now fully fit, he replied: "I'll tell you better after the match. We have to leave it up to him - only he knows how painful it is."

A Press Trust of India report quoted Shoaib as saying: "I have asked the county to rest me from the Glamorgan game and play me selectively for the rest of the season. I have advised them to look for a back-up player because I want to take proper rest between matches."

Shoaib suffered his injury during the heavy defeat in Pakistan's series decider against India six weeks ago. He was unable to bowl in the second innings, but when he went out and wielded the bat to great effect there were accusations of feigning the injury.

Even the captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, voiced his doubts and also seemed to question Shoaib's attitude.

As he wasn't the only crock, the Pakistan Cricket Board set up a medical commission to look into why there were so many injuries.

Word reached us that Shoaib was delaying his arrival in Durham in order to clear his name, and after a scan he was cleared of faking injury but was cautioned about his conduct.

Shoaib arrived on May 10 and travelled to Taunton with the squad the following day, producing match figures of three for 108 in 27 overs during which he looked out-of-sorts.

But he batted well and his 46 in the second innings was crucial in Durham's magnificent win. The following day he took two for 24 in five overs at Worcester, but that was a fortnight ago and he hasn't played since.

According to an article on the Wisden Cricinfo website, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has written to Shoaib expressing his concerns about him playing for Durham.

Khan is quoted as saying: "He was going to England, where he would rest and after two weeks he would send his bone scan to the PCB. But he played a match and breached the promise. It is quite surprising that one is unfit in Pakistan and by reaching England gets fit overnight.

"His first priority is to Pakistan and he should be played in selective matches by the county."

During lunchtime on the first day at Trent Bridge, Shoaib was to be seen playing with the kids in the outfield. He signed for Nottinghamshire in a big fanfare a few years ago but never played for them.

Durham still don't know how long Shoaib will be staying with them. Pakistan are taking part in an Asia Cup competition in Holland on July 16-August 2, which also features India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

Then there's the possibility of having to team up early with the Pakistan squad for the ICC Trophy starting on September 8.

One option for Durham is to look for a replacement among the New Zealand squad, whose tour ends on July 10. They spoke to Jacob Oram before signing Shoaib last season, but he was injured at the time.

DURHAM, as usual, were not impressed by the umpiring of Trevor Jesty at Trent Bridge. They were convinced Mark Davies had David Hussey caught behind for 17 before he went on to smash 166 not out, then Mr Jesty cut down Durham's spirited second innings fightback.

"Hussey's quite a nice guy and he said he hadn't touched it," said Davies. "But I was sure he had and so was Andrew Pratt."

Paul Collingwood and Gary Pratt looked like putting Durham in a commanding position during their second innings stand of 108, but then the same umpire gave them both out, one caught off bat and pad and one lbw. Both were considered poor decisions.

It was the other umpire, Allan Jones, who called no-ball when Collingwood had match-winning century-maker Chris Read caught behind on seven.

Collingwood no-balls are as rare as hen's teeth, and it was a good ball which Read would have had to play whether he heard the call or not.

DANNY Law made some easy runs at Jesmond last week, but his bowling doesn't seem to have improved.

Playing for Cambridgeshire against Northumberland he made 82 and 109 against an attack which featured his old Durham teammate Marc Symington. But Law took only three wickets in the match as Northumberland won by one wicket off the last ball in a match which produced 1,399 runs.