Controversial Shoaib Akhtar named for Sharjah
Controversial and injury-plagued fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar once again got the selectors nod and was named in a 15-man squad for this month's Sharjah Cup starting Oct 26
Samiul Hasan
14-Oct-2001
Controversial and injury-plagued fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar
once again got the selectors nod and was named in a 15-man
squad for this month's Sharjah Cup starting Oct 26.
The squad would assemble at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium where a
10-day reconditioning camp begins Monday. Shoaib, who was
reported for a suspect bowling action on the 1999 tour to
Australia, was embroiled in another controversy on the tour
to England this year when he deserted the Pakistan cricket
team and opted to turn out for a English village side
Lashings. Besides the paceman had not completed a full tour
without getting injured.
Nevertheless, the Pakistan cricket administrators proved
that Shoaib was their blue-eyed boy when they slapped a oneseason ban on another joyrider paceman Mohammad Akram
earlier this week for a similar offence.
Shoaib, since returning from England in August, has played
in four domestic first-class matches. Though his performance
with the ball is nothing to shout about, he has chipped in
with some valuable runs besides proving his fitness by
staying in the field throughout the matches.
However, Shoaib, who has 75 wickets from 45 one-dayers, will
have to deliver something substantial to justify the
selectors faith in him and PCB's decision to spend millions
of rupees in on his medical bills.
One significant name missing from the squad is of offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq who is yet to return from England
after representing Surrey. According to officials, he is
nursing his wife who is expecting their first child this
month.
Shoaib Malik is the lone finger spinner in the side. Wrist
spinner Danish Kaneria, who took 12 wickets in the Asian
Test Championship opener against Bangladesh at Multan in
August, has also been named for his maiden tour to the
Sheikhdom. Also winning a berth from that record-making
match was left-handed opener Taufiq Umer who slammed a
century on debut.
Paceman Wasim Akram, who has taken six wickets in his last
seven one-dayers, is also retained in the squad along with
Inzamam-ul-Haq who will miss the first round matches of the
double league competition because of a two-match suspension
he received during the tri-nation one-day series final
against Australia at Lord's in June.
Squad: Waqar Younis (National Bank, captain),
Inzamam-ul-Haq (National, vice-captain), Taufiq Umer (Habib
Bank), Saeed Anwar (Agriculture Development Bank of
Pakistan), Shahid Afridi (Habib Bank), Younis Khan (Habib
Bank), Yousuf Youhana (Pakistan International Airlines),
Rashid Latif (Allied Bank, wicketkeeper), Wasim Akram
(Pakistan International Airlines), Abdur Razzaq (Pakistan
International Airlines), Azhar Mahmood (Pakistan
International Airlines), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan
International Airlines), Shoaib Akhtar (Khan Research
Laboratory), Naved Latif (Allied Bank) and Danish Kaneria
(Habib Bank).
Coach: Mudassar Nazar.
Assistant coach: Sikander Bakht.
Manager: Yawar Saeed.
Doctor: Dr Riaz.
Sharjah Cup schedule
Oct 26: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe.
Oct 27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka.
Oct 28: Pakistan v Zimbabwe.
Oct 30: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe.
Oct 31: Pakistan v Zimbabwe.
Nov 2: Pakistan v Sri Lanka.
Nov 4: Final.