More than a year after last playing for Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar seems all set to make yet another return to international cricket on June 3 when Pakistan will name their 15-man squad for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.The enigmatic fast bowler, according to well-placed sources, has garnered enough support within the Pakistan cricket think-tank to earn a recall for the Asia Cup to be played in the central Sri Lankan city of Dambulla from June 15-24.Shoaib, 34, last played for Pakistan in a Twenty20 International against Australia in Dubai on May 7, 2009. After that he was overlooked for a number of important assignments including the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 championship in England, the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa and the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia.Dogged by injury and disciplinary problems it seemed that the Rawalpindi Express, as Shoaib is known in the cricket world, had finally derailed.But the fast bowler didn’t lose heart and made a spirited comeback to the domestic circuit earlier this season after reportedly undergoing liposuction to remove excess weight from his body last year. He bowled a few impressive spells during the Pentangular Cup one-day tournament in Karachi and was later included in a 35-man preliminary squad picked by the national selectors for the Asia Cup and a marathon tour of England.Sources said that there remains some skepticism within the Pakistan camp about the likely return of Shoaib Akhtar. The pacer has made a few unsuccessful comebacks in the last few years and his critics believe that Shoaib is now over the hill and is not good enough for international cricket any more.However, Shoaib has found an influential supporter in Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s Test and one-day captain.Sources said that Afridi believes that a fit-again Shoaib can be a potent weapon in Pakistan’s bowling arsenal for One-day Internationals and Twenty20 matches.“Having regained his fitness, Shoaib has proved that he still has that sting that can unsettle batsmen. Afridi is of the view that Shoaib fits in his game plan which is to play aggressive cricket. “He believes that if Shoaib bowls a fiery spell with the new ball and can get a few breakthroughs then other bowlers like Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir can capitalise on it,” said the source.Another fact that is favouring Shoaib is that Umar Gul remains highly unlikely to catch a flight to Sri Lanka. The lanky pacer is still recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Twenty20 championship in the Caribbean.“Gul’s unavailability will mean that Pakistan will have a slot for a fast bowler for Asia Cup and that will create a place for Shoaib,” said the source.Sources close to Shoaib, meanwhile, said that the player is itching to return to international cricket. “Shoaib is fully fit and is in great form. He is confident of a successful return,” said the source.Chief selector Mohsin Khan, who will hold a meeting with fellow selectors besides consulting Afridi and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, will name the 15-man touring party for the Asia Cup on Thursday.The team will then train for a few days from June 5 before leaving for Dambulla on June 12. Pakistan will face hosts Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the four-nation tournament.