Pakistan's Shoaib taken to hospital with fever

KOLKATA (Reuters) - Pakistan strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar was hospitalised on Tuesday after complaining of fatigue caused by fever, a team official said.

"He was suffering from fever and got very tired after arriving here from New Delhi," the official told Reuters. "So he has been taken to hospital, probably to be put on a drip."

The injury-prone Shoaib took six wickets in the first test against India, his first test since January.

The second game of the three-test series starts in Kolkata on Friday.

The visitors have more fitness concerns with skipper Shoaib Malik nursing an ankle injury suffered during a game of soccer after Monday's defeat in Delhi.

Batsman Misbah-ul Haq is recovering from fever and throat infection he was suffering during the match.

However, fast bowler Umar Gul has been cleared to play in the second test after missing the opener due to back trouble.

"Gul will be available for selection," he said. "His scan report was seen by the Pakistan medical board and it has cleared him."

(Writing by N.Ananthanarayanan, editing by Miles Evans)