Pakistan include two uncapped players
CRICKET: Pakistan Monday named two uncapped players in a 16-man squad
for their three-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi later this
month, aiming for a fresh start after a disastrous World Cup campaign.
Pakistan were eliminated in the first round of the mega event, held
in the Caribbean in March-April, after losing to the West Indies and
Ireland.
Pakistan's campaign was also badly hit after their English coach Bob
Woolmer died in Jamaica on March 18, a day after their defeat against
Ireland. His death was treated as a murder and is still being
investigated.
Pakistan has yet to decide on a replacement for Woolmer, having
advertised the post last month. The Pakistan Cricket Board says it will
likely appoint a temporary coach for the team later this week.
In a further upheaval for the side, team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq quit
one-day cricket and his potential replacement, Younis Khan, turned down
an offer to lead the side, citing personal reasons.
That forced Pakistan's cricket authorities to appoint young Shoaib
Malik as skipper for one year, beginning with the Abu Dhabi series with
matches scheduled for May 18, 20 and 22.
Left-handed spin bowler and allrounder Fawad Alam, 21, a notable
performer in the domestic season, gets his first chance in this side
while left-arm paceman Najaf Shah, 22, also breaks into the national
team after being constantly ignored. Spearhead Mohammad Asif has
returned to the squad after missing the World Cup because of an elbow
injury.
Asif, along with express paceman Shoaib Akhtar, was involved in a
doping scandal last year.
Akhtar was not considered for selection after he failed to prove his
fitness from a knee injury.
Younis, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and allrounder Azhar Mahmood were
unavailable for selection due to commitments in English county cricket
after being part of Pakistan's squad for the World Cup.
Ahmed said the new selection committee would infuse new blood
gradually. Opener Salman Butt, discarded last year, will stage a
comeback while allrounder Abdul Razzaq has recovered from the knee
injury which forced him to miss the World Cup.
A new vice captain will also be announced later, the Pakistan Cricket
Board said. Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Nazir,
Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam, Shahid
Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Sami,
Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Najaf Shah.
LAHORE, Pakistan, Monday, AFP |