KARACHI, 28 May 2003 — Pakistan included suspended fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in their squad yesterday for next month’s tour to England but there was no place for all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
Shoaib was fined and banned for two matches last week for ball tampering during a tri-series match against New Zealand.
He will miss the first of three One-Day Internationals during the three-week tour which starts on June 5.
There were no places for batsmen Taufeeq Umar and Faisal Iqbal, but experienced all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who is enjoying a successful stint with English county side Surrey this season, was recalled.
Uncapped Bilal Asad was also named in the squad but Inzamam-ul-Haq, one of the mainstays of Pakistan’s middle-order in the last decade, was not considered for selection since being dropped after the World Cup earlier this year.
“We are aware of his talent, experience and potential and it is just a matter of time that he will be back in the side, chief selector Aamer Sohail said of Inzamam.
Razzaq has appeared in 132 One-Day Internationals for Pakistan but has struggled for consistency in recent matches.
“Razzaq has been replaced by young all rounder Bilal Asad in the touring squad while we have brought back Azhar because of his recent good form,” Sohail added.
“He (Azhar) is a utility player who, we strongly believe, will make a difference to the outlook of the team.
“We are happy with the progress the young Pakistan team has made in two tournaments since the World Cup which is why we have tried to make minimum changes.”
Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Faisal Athar, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana (vice-captain), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Bilal Asad, Azhar Mahmood, Rashid Latif, (captain) (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmad, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria.
Ban May Extend Playing
Career, Says Warne
In Sydney, disgraced Australian Test cricketer Shane Warne says he hopes his 12-month suspension from cricket will extend his playing career.
Warne said he would work on a few new deliveries during the break and hoped to return to international cricket with renewed vigor. “I’ve done it for 15 years, it’s a long time...so I still think I have a few good years left in me,” he said. “I’ll use this 12 months wisely, keep myself fit as I am now, come up with a few new deliveries, my hunger and my passion stays there hopefully I can play for a few years yet — only time will tell.
“Hopefully, I will come back better than ever.” Warne tested positive for the drugs hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride early this year but said they were from a weight loss drug he was taking.
While both diuretics are normally used to aid temporary weight loss, they can also serve as masking agents for performance-enhancing drugs. Warne said he tried not to think about cricket but admitted he missed the sport thanks to Australia’s dominant tour of the West Indies. “At the moment I’m just trying to forget about cricket, although it’s what I love,” he said.
Atapattu Retained as Captain
for West Indies Series
In Colombo, batsman Marvan Atapattu has been retained as Sri Lanka captain for the three-match one-day series in the West Indies next month.
Atapattu, who took over the one-day captaincy from Sanath Jayasuriya in early May, has kept the job despite Sri Lanka’s failure this month to qualify for a home tri-series final for the first time. “You can’t judge a man on one series alone,” said Lalith Kaluperuma, the chairman of selectors, when the 15-man squad was named yesterday. “It was the batting that lost us the trophy. The top order just needs to regain its form.” The selectors made two changes, axing middle-order batsman Russel Arnold and all-rounder Kaushalya Weereratne.
Naveed Nawaz, a 29-year-old left-hander, who played the last of his three One-Day Internationals against India at the Oval in 2002, takes Arnold’s place. “Russel has been struggling for his form and we decided it was best for him to regain it before returning to the national side,” said Kaluperuma.
