Akhtar turned back at Heathrow airport

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was sent back home from Heathrow airport on Thursday morning because he did not have all the documents allowing him to enter England and play for London county side Surrey.

"I had got a work permit but apparently you also need to have a work visa for that," he told Reuters.

"I had a multiple visit visa so I had to come back. Now the documents are complete and I will hopefully fly out on Friday."

Akhtar, 33, has been given special permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play for Surrey for the remainder of the season.

The PCB has served a legal notice on Akhtar to pay a fine of seven million rupees ($91,719) after a five-year ban was cut to 18 months. The player had been suspended for disciplinary reasons.