PAKISTAN legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have questioned Worcestershire's decision to sign their controversial compatriot Shoaib Akhtar as an overseas player this summer.

The former captains find Shoaib, the fastest bowler on the planet, guilty of excessive self-promoting at the expense of performing.

He recently returned to Pakistan from Australia with his reputation and hamstring damaged.

"Shoaib is not a match winner any more," Akram said. "He just comes and talks and plays one game, and then gets injured. He just thinks he is too good."

And Waqar Younis agreed, stating: "Pakistan and Worcestershire don't need an unfit Shoaib Akhtar. He has got to be fit and should let the ball do the talking instead of hyping himself up."

The man himself admitted for the first time before flying home that he was feeling the pressure of being outnumbered throughout the Australian tour.

"It's hard trying to bowl at 155km/h all the time," said Shoaib. "You do get niggles. It was just me up against seven batsmen who are all capable of scoring 200 runs each. There wasn't much support for me."

Shoaib began the tour with an explosive 5-99 in Australia's first innings at Perth in December. He finished the three-match Test series with 11 wickets at 30, representing a major improvement on the 2001 tour when he took six wickets at nearly 70.

But he was sent home to rest his injured hamstring before Pakistan's forthcoming tours of India, the Carribean and his arrival at New Road for the second-half of the county season.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer admits he will consider pulling Shoaib and his teammate Danish Kaneria, who is returning to Essex, out of county cricket if he deems they are tired after the West Indies tour.

But Shoaib is confident of a quick recovery from his latest setback and insists he will play on for another six years.

He said: "I think I can play another two World Cups. I will definitely reach the next one in the West Indies in 2007 and then cut down my run-up."