Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is hopeful of recovering from a torn hamstring injury in time to make Pakistan's squad for the World Cup.Shoaib tore his hamstring during a four-wicket haul in a Test in South Africa earlier in January, playing his first match almost a year.
He said: "I was willing to bowl in the second innings of the Test, but doctors told me I should not risk it.
"I was told to go home, recover from my injury and prepare for the World Cup."
The 31-year-old strike bowler, whose appearances have been cut short by injuries and suspensions, was also diagnosed with fluid in his knee.
He was left out of the original squad for South Africa because of poor fitness, but then arrived to play in the second Test, insisting he was OK to start a match.
But he had a row with team coach Bob Woolmer at the start of the second day's play in Port Elizabeth.
"There was an incident and it occurred because of a misunderstanding," Shoaib said.
"Woolmer didn't realise how serious my injury was and I reacted strongly to his queries. But it is now sorted out."
Shoaib, one of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, has taken 169 wickets in 43 Tests and added 208 scalps from 133 one-dayers.
He was given a two-year ban last November after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone but a Pakistan Cricket Board appeals tribunal cleared him of doping offences.
The World Cup starts in mid-March.
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