Akhtar left out of Pakistan ODI squad

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has been struggling with injury and illness, has been left out of Pakistan's 16-man squad to face New Zealand in three one-day matches starting next week.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, which announced the squad on Tuesday, also omitted leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. The youngster hit the headlines when he grabbed a 12-wicket haul in an Asian Test Championship match against Bangladesh last month.

"This team is basically for the three one-dayers. Players not considered for selection are definitely in the running to play in the Tests," chief selector Wasim Bari said.

Bari said the PCB wanted Akhtar, rated the fastest bowler during the 1999 World Cup, to play a few first class matches before he could be considered for selection.

"We are giving Akhtar more time to regain his match fitness as we want him to be available for the Test matches," Bari said.

New Zealand are due to arrive in Karachi on Wednesday and will play three Tests as well as the one-dayers, which begin on September 19.

"I think we have a very balanced side," added Bari. "Wasim Akram has been included in the team because we believe he will come through soon. He is experienced and seasoned."

Akram did not take a wicket in his last Test appearance and has bagged just seven in his previous five Test matches.

The squad:
Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Yousaf Youhana, Naveed Latif, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif, Azhar Mehmood, Abdur Razzaq, Waqar Younis (capt), Wasim Akram, Shabbir Ahmed, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik.

Mail Cricket Editor