Pakistan recalls Razzaq, Nazir, Akmal for T20s

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recalled Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir in a 15-man squad yesterday for three Twenty20s against Australia and the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Wicketkeeper Akmal has not played international cricket since last year’s World Cup, and appeared before the Pakistan Cricket Board integrity committee last week. Akmal claimed he has a letter from the International Cricket Council that no inquiry is pending against him.
Allrounder Razzaq and hard-hitting opening batsman Nazir both played their last T20s in 2010.
Left-handed opening batsman Nasir Jamshed, who missed the series against Sri Lanka due to a finger injury, returns to the squad while selectors also included middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq to strengthen the batting lineup.
Shafiq did well in the recent test series in Sri Lanka despite Pakistan losing it 1-0.
Pakistan is scheduled to play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s against Australia from Aug. 28-Sept.10 before the World Twenty20 begins in Sri Lanka from Sept. 18.
Mohammad Hafeez will continue to captain the Twenty20 team until December, the PCB said in a statement. Hafeez replaced Misbah-ul-Haq, who led Pakistan to a 1-1 tie with Sri Lanka in a T20 series.
Pakistan is in Group D of the World Twenty20 with New Zealand and Bangladesh. The top two teams from the four groups qualify for the Super Eight.