The squad, with seven back from the tragic 2007 World Cup in
the Caribbean, featured few surprises with the selectors relying on two
specialist spinners, Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal, for the spin-friendly
pitches of the subcontinent.
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will lead the four-pronged pace
attack which also includes Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir, with allrounder
Abdul Razzaq supplementing as a medium-pace bowler.
Pakistan's batting will revolve around the experienced
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and his younger
brother Umar strengthening the middle order.
Also picked were specialist openers Mohammad Hafeez and
Ahmed Shehzad.
Yousuf made the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad but
hasn't played a one-dayer since he was recalled for the series-decider against
South Africa last November in Dubai and made only 3.
The veteran of 281 ODIs for Pakistan, fifth-highest in team
history, scored only one half-century in 10 matches last year.
Though he helped Pakistan reach the final of his first World
Cup in 1999 in England, Yousuf scored only two half-centuries in 13 career
World Cup matches.
Middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq was preferred in the 2011
squad for Yousuf, who was also ignored for the six-match one-day series against
New Zealand starting this weekend.
The World Cup captain will be announced later, Pakistan
Cricket Board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said on Tuesday without elaborating.
Local media have reported the PCB was considering handing
over the captaincy to Misbah after his successful run as captain in tests
against South Africa and New Zealand.
Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in the series against the
Kiwis, starting in Wellington from Saturday.
Afridi, the most experienced player in the squad with 301
ODIs and three previous World Cups, was one of seven players back from the
tournament four years ago, along with Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis, Razzaq,
Gul, and Akhtar. At that tournament, Pakistan was eliminated in the group stage
and coach Bob Woolmer died in his hotel room.
Pakistan will start its campaign against Kenya at
Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 23. It was in Group A with Australia, New
Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.
Pakistan was dropped as a co-host due to security concerns,
leaving Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka as the host countries.
Shahid
Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan,
Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed
Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir.