Pakistan on Wednesday named Kamran Akmal in a one-day squad — that will effectively be their line-up for World Cup 2011 — for the six-match series against New Zealand getting underway in Wellington later this month.
The country’s cricket chiefs have decided to retain Shahid Afridi as captain for the ODI series, an indication that the seasoned allrounder remains their first choice to lead the Greenshirts in World Cup 2011. They’ve also recalled Kamran, an experienced wicketkeeper-batsman, after keeping him out of the Pakistan team for almost four months apparently due to match-fixing suspicions. Kamran replaces his brother Adnan, who is currently featuring for Pakistan in their Test series against New Zealand.
But the national selectors opted against bringing back veteran middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf and instead picked Misbah-ul-Haq in the 16-man squad that will play in the series against the Black Caps starting January 22. Misbah, who is leading Pakistan in their ongoing Test series against New Zealand, was also named as the ODI vice-captain.
There has been some uncertainty over Afridi’s captaincy as a whispering campaign in a section of Pakistan’s cricket community suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling over the option of installing Misbah as Pakistan’s World Cup captain.
Afridi, 30, was earmarked as Pakistan’s limited-overs captain last year but speculations continued to grow about his captaincy after he led the national team to back-to-back losses in two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand late last month.
Sources told ‘The News’ that Pakistan have made up their mind to more or less retain the same squad for World Cup which will begin just two weeks after the ODI series against New Zealand.
“Unless there are any drastically bad results in New Zealand or some serious injuries, it will be highly unlikely that Pakistan will make any changes in the team before the World Cup,” said a well-placed source.
That’s bad news for the 36-year-old Yousuf, who was preparing hard to win a recall for World Cup.
Yousuf’s chances to make the cut for the World Cup seemed bright after Afridi pushed for his return during a meeting with Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, last week.
For Misbah, however, things have taken a different, more positive turn. He seemed to be out of Pakistan’s World Cup plans after being dropped for the last three ODIs against South Africa in UAE last November following unimpressive outings in the first two games of the series.
But his return in the ODI squad and that too as vice-captain means that the PCB believes Misbah can play an important role in bolstering Pakistan’s middle-order. Also adding more experience to Pakistan’s batting line-up will be Kamran Akmal.
Kamran, who turns 29 on Thursday (today), was overlooked by national selectors after the tour of England because of PCB’s refusal to clear him for national duty. Though the Board never officially slapped any charges, it is understood that the player was on a PCB blacklist because of suspected links with match-fixers. However, the PCB integrity committee cleared him following a series of grilling sessions after which the Board allowed him to play for Pakistan.
“It is great to be back in the Pakistan team and now I just want to cement my place for the World Cup,” he told reporters. “I know how valuable this Pakistan cap is after having spent the last four months out of the team,” he added.
The selectors have also rewarded Ahmed Shahzad with a place in the ODI team after the young opener impressed in the T20 games in New Zealand. Meanwhile, the PCB has announced that the tour selection committee for the ODI series in New Zealand will include team manager Intikhab Alam, coach Waqar Younis, captain Afridi and his deputy Misbah.
Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Tanvir Ahmed, Ahmed Shahzad.
Posts
1 comments:
kamran Akamal is good player but thanks for including the shahzad in the team he is good talent so we should respect this talent
Ahmed Shehzad
Post a Comment