Out of action since December last, Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar is itching to play for English county Surrey to get back his lethal form and rhythm and prove that he is fit for the national duty.

Shoaib said he was keen to play for Pakistan but the postponement of the Champions Trophy had derailed his plans.

"Right now I just want to go to England and play some cricket for Surrey. Hopefully I can get in two or three matches, which is the best way for me to recover my match fitness," Shoaib, who has 178 wickets in 46 tests and 219 wickets in 138 one-day internationals, said.

"As such this offer from Surrey is a great opportunity to get some competitive cricket and get back into rhythm and form," he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board cleared Shoaib's name to accept a short term contract to play a few matches for Surrey, insisting it would do the pacer a world of good to get some practice opportunities.

"We have no objections to him going and playing for Surrey. He has been working hard in the nets but we feel he needs more match practice as he has not played competitive cricket for a while now," a senior PCB official said.

Asked about the legal notice sent to Shoaib to pay a fine of seven million rupees or he would not be considered for national team, the official said the clearance to play for Surrey was given as it did not involve national duty.

"He has to pay the fine to qualify for Pakistan but since this is a county contract we had no objections," he said.

The Board has granted the permission to the fast bowler just a week after issuing him a legal notice to deposit fine of seven million rupees which was imposed on him by an appellate tribunal in June.