Akhtar wants to stay out of controversy

Shoaib Akhtar says he is now focussed on playing maximum cricket and steer clear of any further controversy.

"I am really happy to be back in the team once again. I am fit and looking forward to do well in Toronto where finally we will get to play against some international opposition," Shoaib said after he was named in a 15-member squad on basis of his performance in the ongoing national T20 championship in Lahore.

"I have been out of touch for a long time and I don't think a fast bowler should be resting for more than three days at a time," Shoaib insisted.

Shoaib said he had enjoyed the experience of playing domestic cricket and share his experiences with junior cricketers.

"It has been a fulfilling experience and helped me get back into rhythm. I think with teams refusing to tour Pakistan, the (Pakistan Cricket) Board should lay lot of stress on having more quality domestic tournaments," he said.

The fast bowler, who returned to the Pakistan side after nearly 11 months, supported having overseas players in domestic cricket and said, "I think it would be a good idea if the sponsors and PCB put in money and got some foreign players to play in our domestic circuit."

Shoaib, however, feels that the step should be chalked out well in advance even for domestic cricket so that players know when they were required to play. The fast bowler said this would be the best way to portray a positive image of Pakistan and send out assurances to other boards that in Pakistan cricket was alive and kicking.

Shoaib has been embroiled in a legal battle with the PCB over his 18-month ban and the fine of Rs seven million imposed on him.

Shoaib thinks his stint with the English county side Surrey had played a lot to regain his confidence and insisted, "The two matches I played for Surrey helped me a lot."

Australia recover after shaky start

Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich struck half-centuries as Australia recovered on day one of the first Test against India.

Australia had reached 166 for the loss their openers, Matthew Hayden and Katich, at tea after Ponting had won the toss and elected to bat in Bangalore.

After losing Hayden to the third ball of the day Ponting and Katich took command with a stand of 166 for the second wicket before the left-handed opener fell for 66 just before the tea break.

That left Ponting at the crease, and closing on his first Test century in India, unbeaten on 94 while new batsman Mike Hussey was yet to open his account.

The two teams had ended the first session on par, with Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan turning in sharp spells with the new ball.

Zaheer had removed the burly Hayden for a duck just three deliveries into the day, when he was given out caught behind by umpire Asad Rauf after some consideration.

The Queenslander initially refused to walk and replays suggested he had cause to feel aggrieved as he appeared to hit his pad rather than the ball.

But Ponting and Katich put Australia firmly in command as they realised 166 runs for the second wicket.

Katich, unobtrusive and far more sedate, had held up one end after seeing the shine off the new ball.

But he fell just before tea, opening the door for India to make a comeback. The left-handed opener walked off in disgust after half-heartedly prodded at a delivery from Ishant, only to produce a faint edge which Dhoni held.

Ishant then had three appeals for leg before against Ponting, but he was turned down by South African umpire Rudi Koertzen on each occasion.

The little assistance which Zaheer and Ishant had gleaned from the wicket in the morning had ended as the first session drew to a close.

By then, Ponting and Katich had begun to assert some authority, although runs initially came at a crawl.

Ponting was far more fluent with his stroke play in the session after lunch, hitting 12 boundaries, most of them drives through the cover region.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who had constantly switched ends in the hope of ending the partnership, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was introduced into the attack as early as in the 13th over, bowled a total of 32 overs without success.

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 7 wickets

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day international here on Thursday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 201-9 in 50 overs; Bangladesh 202-3 in 45.3 overs.