Umar Amin new face in Pakistan's 15-man squad

Nineteen-year-old batsman Umar Amin has been rewarded for his impact on the domestic season with a call-up to Pakistan's 15-man squad for the first ODI against Sri Lanka on January 21 in Karachi. The team, the first picked by a new-look selection committee headed by Abdul Qadir, has gone back to traditional Pakistani strength, pace, but is not entirely without surprise.

Amin was the second-highest run-getter in last month's RBS Pentangular One-Day Cup, scoring 254 runs at an average of 84.66 and strike-rate of 89.12. A sound left-hand top-order batsman, he has impressed on several Under-19 tours and was also part of Pakistan's Under-19 squad at last year's World Cup in Malaysia.

"He is a real prospect and the coach and captain were both keen to have him in the squad, to encourage him and groom him further,"

Salim Jaffer, one of the selectors, told Cricinfo.

"He has impressed a number of people this season."

But pace it is that dominates Pakistan's thinking ahead of the three-match series. Sohail Khan returns having missed the Abu Dhabi series against West Indies in November as does the skiddy, all-round option of Yasir Arafat. Ahead of both are the first-choicers, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Iftikhar Anjum, thus giving Pakistan six options. The wickets, it is a given, will be quicker and bouncier than have been seen in recent times.

"The selection committee spoke to the coach Intikhab Alam about the plan for the series and we have picked a squad according to that,"

Jaffer said.

"Our strength is pace and we believe our options there are stronger than Sri Lanka's so we have gone for that."

But there are some surprises in this squad, prime among them the exclusion Nasir Jamshed. Arguably Pakistan's find of a lean year in 2008, Jamshed has been overlooked despite being in the runs domestically. Jamshed missed the Abu Dhabi matches after pulling out at the last minute with an illness and was replaced by Khurram Manzoor.

A fair rather than spectacular return in those three ODIs has meant Manzoor retains his place over Jamshed, though it is learnt the spot was the focus of considerable debate and disagreement between the committee. One selector was in favour, but was ultimately ruled over by the other two.

There was also some friction over the dropping of Fawad Alam, the allrounder, who has become a regular squad fixture over the last year. As much as a lack of impact, it is thought Pakistan's preference for pace in this contest went against him.

The only spinner in the squad is offspinner Saeed Ajmal, which means there's no place yet for legspinner Danish Kaneria, who was hopeful of a one-day call-up with the change in the PCB management. Kaneria was surprisingly promoted to the top grade of central contracts and noises coming from the new management had suggested he may get a look-in under these selectors, having long been outside of Pakistan's ODI thinking. But a poor showing in the Pentangular one-dayers seems to have gone against him for the moment.

Sri Lanka's visit will be the first test for Shoaib Malik after he was given an indefinite extension as the team's captain earlier this month.

Pakistan squad : Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk) , Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Iftikhar Anjum, Saeed Ajmal, Khurram Manzoor, Sohail Khan, Yasir Arafat, Umar Amin.

Shoaib in, Yousuf out of Pakistan's squad for Canada T20 Tournament

Controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar was included in a 15-man Pakistan squad for this week's Twenty20 tournament in Canada but star batsman Mohammad Yousuf was left out, selectors said Tuesday.

The selection of the 33-year-old Akhtar came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) softened its stance on a demand for payment of a seven million rupees (90,000 dollars) fine.

The PCB said last month that Akhtar, who has not played for Pakistan this year because of injury and discipline problems, would only be allowed to play if he pays the fine.

"We have included Akhtar after clearance from the PCB and hope that he delivers the goods in the tournament," chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said.

The four-nation event runs from October 10-13 in Toronto. Sri Lanka, hosts
Canada and Zimbabwe complete the line-up.

Akhtar, who last played in the Bangalore Test against India in December, was set to return to international cricket for the Champions Trophy but the September event was postponed over security fears in Pakistan.

The maverick bowler -- known as the Rawalpindi Express for the sheer pace of his deliveries -- was in April banned for five years for publicly criticising the PCB after he was left out of a 15-man list for lucrative contracts.

A PCB appeal committee reduced the ban to 18 months but also imposed a fine in June. Akhtar then challenged the reduction and fine in Lahore High court, which suspended the ban but upheld the fine in July.

Yousuf, who was left out of the side that finished runners-up to India in last year's Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa, failed to impress in the ongoing domestic Twenty20 event in Lahore.

But PCB chief Shafqat Naghmi said Yousuf's passport did not return from the Canadian high commission.

"Otherwise he would have been in the 15-man squad,"

Naghmi said.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi is in the team despite poor recent batting form, while another all-rounder, Fawad Alam, also staged a comeback after being left out of the Champions Trophy squad.

The 23-year-old paceman Anwar Ali and opener Shoaib Khan, also 23, have not played for Pakistan at senior level.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Shoaib Khan, Khalid Latif, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf.

National team for Canadian T20 to be announced on Oct 6

Chairman selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Salahuddin Sallu said that national squad for Twenty20 quadrangular in Canada would be announced on October 6.

Talking to Geo News here, Sallu said that PCB would give final clearance as regards Shoaib Akhtar today and if Shoaib clears the fitness test, he would be picked up for the squad.

The Board is learnt to have chosen 20 odd players for the Canadian assignment, out of which 15 will be playing in the October 10-13 quadrangular tournament.

15 Players announced for ICC Champions Trophy

National Selection Committee headed by Mr. Salahuddin Ahmad has announced 15 players for the ICC Champions Trophy 2008 in Pakistan. The squad is as follows:

1. Shoaib Malik - Captain
2. Salman Butt
3. Nasir Jamshed
4. Khalid Latif
5. Younis Khan
6. Misbah-ul-Haq - Vice Captain
7. Bazid Khan
8. Shahid Afridiv
9. Sohail Tanvir
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Umar Gul
12. Iftikhar Anjum
13. Abdur Rauf
14. Kamran Akmal - Wicket Keeper
15. Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan names 30 probables for Champions Trophy

The Chief operating officer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shafquat Naghmi has announced Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy here in a press conference today.

The Pakistani squad includes: Shoaib Malik (Captain), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Nasir Jamshaid, Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq (V. Captain), Khalid Latif, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Bazid Khan, Fawad Alam, Masood Amjad, Shoaib Akhtar, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rauf, Anwar Ali, Muhammad Amir, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Yasir Hameed, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Yasir, Sohail Khan, Mansoor Amjad, Umer Gul and Khurram Manzoor.

Last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed the PCB to delay the naming of 30 probables until July 15. Pakistan is due to host the biennial Champions Trophy, featuring the top eight cricket countries from September 11-28. The cut-off time for submitting the final 15-member squad to the ICC is August 11.

Team selection delayed until Shoaib Akhtar ‘pays up’

Senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and national selectors seemed to be on a collision course after Pakistan delayed naming their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy following a dispute with controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar over the payment of a seven million rupees fine.

The selectors had included Shoaib in a 30-man provisional list for the Champions Trophy but some Board officials disapproved it, saying that the fast bowler cannot be a part of it until he pays the fine.

With PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf not in the country, it was left to Shafqat Naghmi, the Board’s chief operating officer, to resolve the issue after it snowballed into the newest controversy to hit Pakistan cricket.

Naghmi has summoned the national selectors to the Board headquarters in Lahore on Monday (July 14) to discuss the provisional list. The PCB has decided to name the Champions Trophy probables after the meeting.

The Board landed itself in an embarrassing situation when the preliminary list was leaked to the media before it was officially announced.

The list was due to be released on Friday — the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). A PCB official, however, said that the ICC has relaxed the deadline till July 15.

“It (the announcement of the list) is not an issue,”

Mansoor Sohail, PCB’s media director, said.

“The list will be released after the meeting between Board officials and the selectors on Monday,”

he added.

While Sohail tried to play down the episode, this correspondent has learnt that the selectors were unhappy at the way PCB officials have tackled the issue. Sources said that the selectors included Shoaib and another controversial pacer Mohammad Asif in the list after getting permission from Ashraf before he left for England for a week-long visit. They weren’t expecting other PCB officials to question the list.

According to well-placed sources, it was Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations (International), who raised an objection on Shoaib’s inclusion in the list. Zakir has had problems with Shoaib in the past and the two are not the best of friends.

But Naghmi made it clear that Zakir’s objection came because of an entirely different reason.

“We have a policy or a vision for the first year to concentrate mostly on the 26 players we are paying a monthly salary or retainer to,”

Naghmi told.

“This pool numbers 26 and we needed 30,”

he added.

“We had also decided that if any extraordinary talent outside this pool emerges, then we have men like Mudassar Nazar, Aaqib Javed and Haroon Rasheed at the academy who spot this talent.

“So anytime the selectors pick outside this 26, a committee headed by Zakir Khan needs to just approve that these are the guys we should pick. That was scheduled for this morning but couldn’t happen and will now happen on Monday,”

he added.

When contacted by ‘The News’, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed made it clear that the selection committee will accept any decision made by the PCB Governing Board.

“It (Governing Board) is the supreme authority and its decision will be final,”

he said adding that the selectors had picked the best players in the provisional squad.

Of those best players, two are disputed.

Shoaib is the main bone of contention. He was banned for five years on April 1 this year over repeated breaches of discipline but later the punishment was reduced to 18 months but he was slapped with a Rs 7 million fine.

Later, Shoaib filed a petition with the Lahore High Court against the ban and fine last month. The court suspended the ban but refused to clear the fine until the case is taken up for regular hearing in September.

The board’s legal opinion suggests that Shoaib will become eligible after he pays the fine.

“We got the written court order today,”

Naghmi said.

“They suspended the ban but not the fine. We have asked our lawyer whether Shoaib becomes eligible after paying the fine and the lawyer believes that is the case. We’ve sent a letter to Shoaib to pay the fine by Monday.”

The second player in question is Asif. A PCB fact-finding committee is to probe an incident that led to his detention in Dubai last month for allegedly carrying a banned drug.

The three-man committee, which includes Naghmi, Zakir and Nadeem Akram, will begin its work from Monday, after receiving documents related to the case from Dubai.

Technical Committee allows Pakistan to replace Gul with Rauf

The Technical Committee of the Ninth Asia Cup 2008 has permitted Pakistan to replace injured fast bowler, Umar Gul with Abdur Rauf.

The three member committee comprising Zakir Khan (Chairman), Mr. K. K Haridas (Member) and Iqbal Sikander (Member) considered the request from the pakistan team management for the replacement and allowed it.

Abdur Rauf will join the Pakistan Team for the rest of the tournament.

Gul was ruled out of the tournament with a rib cage injury during the match against India on Thursday.

Shoaib Malik says, "Pakistan is Favourite for Asia Cup."

The captain of Pakistan cricket team has stated that Pakistan are favorite for Asia Cup after having won tri-nation series in Bangladesh.

Talking to media in Karachi he said that victory in tri-nation series has lifted up moral of national cricket team and I hope that ours would demonstrate excellent performance in round the corner Asia Cup.

India and Srilanka cricket teams would confer us tough time therefore our players have to prove industrious against them, he said.

Responding to a question skipper said that Kamran Akmal has been part of national team by dint of his performance, on friendship basis instead.

Pakistan would have edge on opponents on account of home-ground nevertheless, the guests are not soft-under-belly.