DURHAM were last night waiting to see whether Shoaib Akhtar would be put under pressure to return to Pakistan for a three-Test series against Bangladesh.

After originally giving him permission to miss the series, the Pakistan Cricket Board have now asked the world's fastest bowler to report for the first Test by August 17.

This follows an injury to Mohammed Sami, which will rule him out of the first two matches.

Shoaib would prefer to stay and complete the season with Durham, which was his intention when he signed six weeks ago.

It was ironic that the news emerged on the day when Martin Love arrived back from Australia after playing in their two Tests against Bangladesh and missing four of Durham's championship matches.

Durham have been able to play two overseas men in only three of their 11 matches to date, but would not be able to replace Shoaib as they have used up their allocation of four for the season after also employing Dewald Pretorius and Javagal Srinath.

The series in Pakistan starts on August 20 at Karachi, and although Pakistan have asked Shoaib to report by the 17th Durham are hoping he can play in their next championship match at Cardiff on August 13-16.

He would then miss the home game against Hampshire and National League matches at home to Sussex and away to Derbyshire.

If he was needed only for the first two Tests he might just get back in time to play in the championship match at Northampton, starting on September 3. Durham have two more matches after that, away to Gloucestershire and at home to Glamorgan.

Love and Shoaib will appear together for the first time since the defeat at Worcester in tomorrow's National League game at home to Somerset, who are bottom of division two.

Shoaib is not under contract to Pakistan and said: "I had permission to play half a season for Durham, but Mohammed Sami's injury has changed that.

"It's an honour for me to play for Pakistan, but we have just had the news and we are talking about it.

"Playing county cricket is a great learning process for me. I'm bowling every day and getting stronger, and I'm enjoying every bit of it.

"Durham are a young side and they really want to win. I'm helping them do that and nothing could be better than this.

"I always take three or four balls to warm up, but if I get an early wicket I often take three or four. I'm learning to use my slips and mix up the bouncers and length balls."

Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "We will speak to the Pakistan board and Shoaib will talk to the captain. If he has to go he has to go.

"It would be a massive blow for us, but he is proud to play for his country and we will not stand in his way."

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