Shoaib Akhtar is a doubtful starter for the Asian XI in the Afro-Asia Cricket Cup as he still needs time to recuperate from his knee injury.

"I don't know If I will be able to play in the one-day series and I am a doubtful starter. I have informed the Pakistan Cricket Board about this," Shoaib said in Lahore on Saturday.

Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Yousuf are the other two Pakistanis in the Asian squad for the three-match ODI series, to be played in India between June 6 and 10.

A Twenty20 match has also been scheduled on June 5, which will include mostly reserve players of both sides.

The mercurial speedster, who has been out of action since breaking down earlier this year, said he is still trying to recover from the injury.

"I am fit but I want to be super fit and make a permanent return to international cricket," Shoaib said.

The pacer said he did not want to be a burden on the Asian team as he needs more time to get match practice and his rhythm back.

"I have offered to play the Twenty20 match instead as it will give me a chance to bowl a few overs in competitive conditions," he added.

He and Asif had tested positive for nandrolone in out of competition dope tests held by the PCB last September and were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India.

Initially they were banned for two and one years but then an appellate committee of the board waived their bans and cleared them of doping charges.

The decision has been challenged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Geneva.

Meanwhile, Shoaib also rubbished suggestions that he may have an ego clash with newly-appointed skipper Shoaib Malik.

"There are no ego problems here with me. When I resume playing I will give him my utmost support," he said.

Shoaib also ruled out taking early retirement from one-dayers to concentrate on Tests because of fitness problems.

"I am still just 30; others have played both forms of the game until they were 36. So it is no big deal for me as well," he said.