MULTAN, 26 March 2004 — Pakistan have axed all-rounder and fastest century-maker Shahid Afridi and middle order batsman Younis Khan from a 16-man squad announced yesterday for the first Test against India starting here on Sunday.
The selectors have made three changes for the squad, including spinner Danish Kaneria, paceman Umer Gul and left-handed batsman Asim Kamal in place of Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan.
Afridi, a hard-hitting opener, managed just 89 in the recent one-dayers against the tourists, while Younis also disappointed with a tally of 140 runs as India clinched the series 3-2 on Wednesday.
The squad has seven specialist batsmen, six bowlers including two spinners, Danish Kaneria and Saqlain Mushtaq,two all-rounders and a wicketkeeper. Kamal, a young left-hand batsman, scored 99 on his Test debut against South Africa at Lahore last year.
“We have given the team management the best available variety in attack for the first Test,” chief selector Wasim Bari told AFP.
“The Test squad has two good spinners in Saqlain Mushtaq and Kaneria and five frontline pacers. It is a balanced squad which will help us overcome the defeat in the one-dayers,” he said.
The team for the remaining two Tests will be named later.
The second Test will be played in Lahore from April 5 and the third in Rawalpindi from April 13.
Pakistan squad: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umer, Yasir Hameed, Misbah-ul Haq, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umer Gul, Danish Kaneria.
Meanwhile,the Indian cricket team arrived in Multan Thursday from Lahore without skipper Saurav Ganguly, whose fitness for the first Test is in doubt.
Ganguly sustained the injury when he landed awkwardly while attempting to stop a shot in the fifth one-day international, which India won on Wednesday to clinch the series 3-2. The 31-year-old was carried off the field on a stretcher and did not return until the match ended. “Saurav went to see a doctor today and investigations are still going on,” Amrit Mathur, the Indian team’s media manager, told Reuters by phone from Lahore on Thursday.
“He and physio Andrew Leipus will stay on in Lahore tonight to meet another doctor. A final decision on his availability for the match will be made after we get an opinion from the specialist,” Mathur added.
Vice-captain Rahul Dravid will lead the side if Ganguly is declared unfit. Opener Aakash Chopra, leg-spinner Anil Kumble and medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar have joined the squad. Kumble and Agarkar missed the one-dayers due to injury and their return will strengthen an inexperienced bowling attack. Due to political tensions, India are playing their first test series in Pakistan since 1989-90. Relations have improved since last year and many hope cricket will prove to be the catalyst for enduring peace between the two neighbours. The second test will be played in Lahore (April 5-9) and the third and final test in Rawalpindi (April 13-17). Additional input from Agencies.
