KARACHI, 19 June 2004 — Pakistan’s cricket selectors have invited fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to attend their Asia Cup training camp. Akhtar made yesterday’s list of 26 players despite a row with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over his availability and fitness for the prestigious regional tournament being held next month in Sri Lanka after a gap of four years. “He has been called for the training camp. But his final selection would be subject to his passing a fitness test,” chief selector Wasim Bari said.
“He is a senior player and match winner. But he has had fitness problems in the last few months and we have been following his progress for (English county side) Durham closely. If he is fully fit it will be good for the team,” Bari said.
Akhtar has been recovering from a rib injury. Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates are taking part in the tournament from July 16. The Pakistan players will attend a training camp from June 28 in Lahore, with their new English coach Bob Woolmer arriving on July 2 to take charge of preparations.
The selectors have also recalled all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez, who was dropped last year in the Test series against South Africa after playing 21 consecutive one-dayers and three Tests.
Players named for the training camp:
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Younis Khan, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Salman Butt, Riaz Afridi, Zahid Saeed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Bazid Khan, Yasir Arafat.
Asia Cup itinerary. July 16 — Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, India vs UAE; July 17 — Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Sri Lanka vs UAE; July 18 — Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Sri Lanka vs India; Phase II (all matches to have reserve days; July 21 — A2 vs B2, A1 vs B1; July 23 — A2 vs B1; July 25 — A1 vs B2; July 27 — B1 vs B2; July 29 — A1 vs A2. August 1 – Final; August 2 — Reserve Day.
Tendulkar Joins India’s Opening Pair Debate
Meanwhile, Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar yesterday stepped into a debate sparked by his captain that middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh would be promoted as a Test opener in the coming season. “My personal opinion is that Akash Chopra has done exceptionally well as an opener,” Tendulkar said after his captain Sourav Ganguly confirmed last week that Yuvraj would open the innings in the new season.
