Shoaib eyes seamers' comeback

Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar could add firepower to Pakistan's pace attack

Captain Shoaib Malik believes Pakistan would be a dominant force in world cricket if pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif return to the team.

Pakistan's bowling has struggled due a lack of experience in recent times, with the team having been severely depleted with an exodus of promising players.

Shoaib briefly featured in a Twenty20 series in Canada, but has not played either a Test or a one-day international for Pakistan in over a year.

Although he was selected in the Pakistan team for a three-match series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi last month, Shoaib is still fighting a legal battle to overturn a 18-month ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board on disciplinary grounds.

Shoaib, who has also struggled with injuries, did not feature in any of the matches in Abu Dhabi due to a calf strain sustained on the eve of the first one-dayer.

Asif has been under suspension ever since he tested positive for the banned drug nandrolone during the Indian Premier League.

"Both Shoaib and Asif are determined to come back to the Pakistan team and I'm confident that they will," Shoaib Malik said.

"The two players have been training hard and I am sure they would be a great asset for Pakistan once they return.

"Shoaib has been practising hard every day. It's evident that he is working hard on a successful comeback and that's a good sign for Pakistan."