CRICKET: Shoaib Akhtar is expecting Pakistan to shrug off the psychological damage caused by their three-day second Test defeat at Old Trafford and bounce back strongly against England at Headingley.

The Pakistan fast bowler spent last week in Manchester in the nets starting his comeback from ankle surgery while his team-mates slid to an innings-and-120-runs defeat out in the middle. But having studied their response to the three-day humiliation, Shoaib is convinced Pakistan have the necessary mettle to shrug it off and come back strongly in the third Test starting on Friday.

"It was a bad game for Pakistan, but it's one of those games you have to go through," stressed Shoaib.

"I would try to forget all about it if it was me. They were not too low about the performance. I think we have a very good captain in Inzamam-ul-Haq because he's very determined, but he's also very relaxed."

Shoaib is banking on a Pakistan response simply because he wants the series to remain alive for his possible comeback in the final Test at The Oval starting on August 17th.