Akhtar recalled to squad for Asia Cup
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Paceman Shoaib Akhtar was recalled to the Pakistan squad yesterday for this month’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
The 34-year-old Akhtar has struggled with injuries over the past year, and last featured in a one-day international for Pakistan when it played Australia in Abu Dhabi in May 2009.
But Akhtar was cleared to take his place in Pakistan’s 15-man squad, which also included three uncapped players, after proving his fitness to selectors.
“He passed the fitness test which we conducted yesterday and all his medical reports are favorable,” chief selector Mohsin Khan told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore.
Akhtar bowled 12 overs in a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy that lasted almost four hours and was witnessed by Ijaz Butt, the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board.
“He was bowling extremely well,” Butt said. “I saw him bowling six overs and I am more than satisfied with his fitness.”
Former captain Shoaib Malik was also included in the squad after passing a fitness test which comprised bowling 15 overs and batting for nearly two hours.
Malik recently had a one-year ban for indiscipline during the tour of Australia lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“I have given clear instructions to both the coach and the captain that whoever is found breaching discipline (rules) during the tour should be sent back to Pakistan without consulting me,” Butt said.
The three uncapped players included in the squad are batsmen — Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq.
The Asia Cup, which is being hosted by defending champion Sri Lanka, takes place between June 15-24. India and Bangladesh are the other participating teams in the four-nation tournament.
Khan said Pakistan’s squad for two Twenty20 internationals and test series against Australia and England will be named in Sri Lanka on June 20.
Squad — Shahid Afridi (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal.
