KARACHI: In a bid to make their international return, Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik on Wednesday underwent fitness tests in Lahore a day before Pakistan name their 15-man squad for this month’s Asia Cup.
Sources told ‘The News’ that Akhtar was unable to fully convince the national selectors about his ‘match fitness’ after bowling ten overs. But the controversial pacer, sources said, is still in with a ‘70 per cent chance’ of making the cut for the Asia Cup.
Malik, on the other hand, passed the fitness test but his selection depends on whether he is able to get the required support from Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi at a crucial meeting to be held at the PCB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday (today).
The former captain became available for the Asia Cup after a one-man appeal tribunal cleared him of a one-year ban imposed on him by the PCB last March for indiscipline. Malik has been blamed for hatching conspiracies against former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
However, sources said that Afridi doesn’t want Malik back, at least not for the Asia Cup, which is why he is unlikely to be selected today.
Sources said that the Board is under pressure from some influential quarters to bring Malik back in the team.
“There is a lot of pressure on the PCB to pick Malik for the Asia Cup but Afridi wants him to stay away. The captain believes that Malik should get this message that unless he changes his approach, he won’t be welcomed back in the team,” said a well-placed source.
Akhtar, in contrast, has Afridi’s support.
“Afridi believes that Pakistan can field Akhtar in crucial matches and give him regular rests between matches. He is of the view that Akhtar can still be a wicket-taking bowler in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.”
Sources said that there is a 30 percent chance that the national selectors might overlook Akhtar because of fitness concerns.
Shoaib bowled ten overs during the fitness test at the Gaddafi Stadium but was unable to maintain his pace towards the end of the exercise. “His pace went down and there was also this slight limp which left the selectors unconvinced.”
If Shoaib is overlooked, then the selectors and the team management are expected to select rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in the Asia Cup squad. Irfan almost made it in Pakistan team for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and is now in contention for a place in the touring party for the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, there are at least three new faces with solid chances of making the cut for the Dambulla-bound squad.
Shahzaib Hasan, the hard-hitting opener from Karachi, is expected to make the 15-man squad on the basis of his prolific form on the domestic circuit.
Shahzaib was a surprise inclusion in Pakistan’s team for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England but the youngster justified his place in the side by hitting a couple of good knocks in the event.
However, he was unable to retain his place in the team and was also overlooked for this year’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in spite of having the support of skipper Afridi.
Another top-order batter in line for a call-up is the 20-year-old Umar Amin.
National selectors and team officials believe that Umar deserves an opportunity and is likely to be a part of the Asia Cup squad. Also in contention is Karachi batsman Asad Shafiq.
No comments:
Post a Comment