Pacers Shoaib Akhtar. Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul. Yasir Arafat and Rao Iftikhar, all first choices for making Pakistan’s fast bowling attack in the forthcoming series against Australia from April 22, remained impressive in the first phase of the physical fitness test conducted at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

They will be appearing for a test again on Friday and Saturday along with 14 more cricketers. Sources said that the team trainer David Dwyer, who tested the cricketers for physical fitness and NCA doctor Sohail Salim, who tested them for muscular strength and skill by making them run and sprint, were satisfied with the results.

As many as 10 cricketers were to appear for the test on Thursday but middle-order batsman Umar Amin twisted his ankle before the start of the procedure. He will be appearing for the test later now. Saeed Ajmal. Ahmed Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed and Sohail Khan also appeared.