Shoaib Akhtar fails to impress for Pakistan

London, May 10: Leading fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could miss next week's opening Test against England after an unconvincing display in Pakistan's drawn warm-up match against Derbyshire on Thursday.

Shoaib was selected for this match less than 24 hours after his delayed arrival in England because of blood tests following stomach trouble.

And, apart from a brief spell on the opening day, has looked a shadow of the bowler once known as the 'Rawalpindi Express'.

He looked ill at ease Thursday, finished wicketless and looked uncomfortable with his newly re-modelled action, which is designed to prevent any controversy about its legality.

But with only this weekend's match against Kent at Canterbury remaining before the tourists assemble at Lord's to face England next Thursday, Pakistan are running out of time to get their spearhead bowler fit for a Test match.

"He's not bowled for a long time and it's hard for a guy to fly straight in and run in and bowl in this cold weather," said Waqar Younis. "He needs more time to get back into his rhythm.

"It's very hard to say if he has enough time to do that before the Test and at the moment we are not really sure about him."

Pakistan are likely to make a decision about whether he plays at Canterbury after practice Friday, but it is looking increasingly unlikely he will feature at Lord's with his place likely to be taken by either Mohammad Sami, Abdur Razzaq or Azhar Mahmood.

Shoaib is not the only concern for Pakistan ahead of Saturday's fixture against Kent with few of their batsman showing any signs of form while their attack looked unconvincing over the last three days against an under-strength Derbyshire line-up.

Resuming 30 adrift on 66 for two, Derbyshire were able to declare on 247 for five with birthday boy Matthew Dowman hitting an unbeaten 145, although the tourists helped during the latter stages of his innings by introducing part-time bowlers Imran Farhat and Faisal Iqbal into the attack.

Pakistan finished the day on 63 for one with Yousuf Youhana, promoted to opener to get time at the crease, falling cheaply for four once again to leave him without a significant innings yet on the tour.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, another player short of time in the middle, increased the tourists' concerns by suffering a foot injury after slipping in the shower last night and although he failed to field today, he is not rated doubtful for this weekend's match.

"We still have a lot to do before we get to Lord's," conceded Waqar.

"We didn't get enough batting in this match and we need more time in the middle for players like Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam, but hopefully that will happen in Canterbury.

"The all-rounders also haven't bowled any long spells yet, but that is difficult in three day matches and we will be looking to do that in the next game."

Having dismissed Derbyshire for a lowly 116 on the opening day with Saqlain Mushtaq claiming six for 46, Pakistan's hopes were high of repeating the feat today and earning a timely victory.

But on a slow pitch which seemed to have flattened out during the course of the match, Derbyshire found an attack featuring Waqar, Shoaib, Saqlain, Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood - all of whom could feature at Lord's - relatively easy to overcome.

Waqar claimed two wickets while part-time bowler Farhat trapped Dominic Cork leg before as he attempted to sweep, but other than those minor successes, the day was dominated by Dowman on his 27th birthday.

Resuming on 15 overnight, he raced to his half-century in only 89 deliveries and although he slowed up in progressing to three figures, he was eager to punish any loose bowling and 15 boundaries in his century.

He added two sixes and five other boundaries when Pakistan's 'joke' bowling was introduced, but still showed enough composure to remain unbeaten at the declaration and give a glimpse of the lost talent which once scored 267 for England under-19s against West Indies eight years ago.