Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar [Images] will play for English county side Worcestershire this season in a bid to regain his place in the national side.

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The 29-year-old has struggled with a hamstring injury since the third Test against Australia in Sydney in January and was left out of the West Indies [Images] tour on fitness grounds.

"I am disappointed at not being selected for the West Indies tour," Shoaib, who has 144 Test wickets to his name, said on Wednesday. "Missing the Indian tour due to injury was bad enough, but this is a big let down.

"I am looking forward to playing with Worcestershire and hopefully it will allow me to prove to the selectors that I am match fit and in form."

Pakistan's selectors did not consider him for the West Indies tour which starts this month saying he needed more time to regain his match fitness and shed some weight.

Pakistan will play two tests and three one-day internationals in the West Indies. The first one-day international is scheduled for May 18.

Shoaib, who took five for 23 in a recent domestic limited overs match, pulled out of the Indian tour in late February, saying he was not 100 percent fit.

His contract with Worcestershire does not begin until July 1 as the county expected him to be playing for Pakistan from April to June. Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas [Images] is playing for Worcestershire in the interim period.