Pakistani selectors named unfit fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in their 15-member World Cup squad.
KARACHI: Pakistani selectors on Tuesday named unfit fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in their 15-member World Cup squad even as another pacer Mohammad Asif was under shadow due to a fresh dope Test to be conducted on the team this week.
There were no major surprises in the squad but the make up indicates the lack of faith of the selectors in the back-up players.
Shoaib is struggling with a knee injury and also has to pass a dope test while Gul has not played since last December due to an ankle injury.
Gul and Shoaib were recalled from South Africa during the recent Test series due to their injury problems.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official said Shoaib had also gone to London on a private visit to seek medical opinion about his knee injury.
"He has been advised rest for two to three weeks and wanted to get a second opinion as he is keen to play in the
World Cup," he said.
The Pakistani players will all undergo dope tests on Friday and Shoaib and Gul also a fitness test before they are confirmed to play in the World Cup.
Selector Iqbal Qasim said the Committee had drawn up a shortlist of reserve players which would be released soon but it apparently includes Mohammad Sami, who is struggling with a back problem, Shabbir Ahmed (groin injury) and Shahid Nazir.
The selectors were also forced to include leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who was ignored for the one-day series in
South Africa.
"It is strange they decided Kaneria was not good enough for the one-dayers in South Africa which would have allowed him much needed practice to settle down into his role as a one-day bowler against quality opposition. Now he will play in the World Cup. There is no sense in our selections," said former captain Javed Miandad.
TEAM:
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Captain), Younis Khan, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar.
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