WORCESTERSHIRE pace ace Shoaib Akhtar will not play in next week's tsunami relief match in Melbourne because of injury.

Shoaib, who was due to play for an Asian XI against a Rest of the World side, has a hamstring problem.

He said it was "sensible" to withdraw, rather than run the risk of a long spell out of the game by making the injury worse.

India's Sachin Tendulkar (elbow) also appears unlikely to play but will attend the match which is expected to attract an 80,000 sell-out crowd.

England fast bowler Darren Gough has flown to Australia after revealing how his eldest son urged him to play in the match.

Gough said: "A third of the victims are children and I've got two kids who are donating their pocket money, so I hope I can do my bit too.

"I explained to them what was happening and my 10-year-old said 'Daddy, go and help'.

"I've not played for six weeks but this wasn't a game to be missed. It is a great opportunity to play with some brilliant players, who I've been on the opposite sides against over the years."