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Malik named for Sahara Cup squad

The Pakistan selection committee, in a rather inexplicable volte face, recalled Test discard Salim Malik, but axed pace ace Waqar Younis from the provisional 18-man team for the Sahara Cup, scheduled between September 12-20 at Toronto, Canada.

The squad as selected, is: Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi (all openers); Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Yohanna, Mohammad Wasim (middle order); Rashid Latif and Moin Khan (keepers); Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad (spinners); Wasim Akram, Mohammad Zahid, Aqib Javed, Fazl-i-Akbar (fast bowlers); Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzak (all-rounders).

The national selectors will pick 14 of these 18 players forthe final squad, and are expected to name the touring party around August 22.

Malik, who fell into disfavour after the Sahara Cup last year, when he along with then captain Ramiz Raja were axed for being too friendly with their Indian opponents, forced his way back on the strength of a fine run that saw him score 395 runs from seven one day games in the national domestic league.

Malik's final inclusion, however, depends on the interim report of the Pakistan Cricket Board probe committee examining allegations of match fixing. The committee will hold one more meeting on August 15, before preparing and submitting its report. The PCB will then decide which players can be picked, and who should be dropped.

Younis, with 281 ODI wickets in 171 matches, is presumably being punished for a forgettable tour of South Africa. In the previous season, the Pakistan speedster has played 15 matches for 16 wickets at 45.87, with an economy rate of 5.47.

The captaincy of the squad, however, remains in doubt. Rashid Latif, who led Pakistan till recently, is part of the squad. However, the selection committee clearly said only one of the two keepers -- the other being Moin -- will go to Toronto. And smart money is on Moin, as the more useful one day batsman, to make the final cut, which means Latif will not even be in the squad, much less lead it.

Aamir Sohail was being tipped for captaincy, till the likes of Saeed Anwar and Inzamam ul Haq categorically informed the Pakistan board that Sohail was unacceptable to them.

Given the dissensions rife in the side, it really is difficult to see who the selectors can pick, to lead the side. Anwar, the last time he was tried in the top slot, lost the plot and also found his batting getting affected. Which leaves either Moin himself, or Inzamam, as the probable choices.

Wasim Akram's availability, meanwhile, remains in doubt, though he is currently in England. The selectors indicated that if Akram were not available, they would pull Shoaib Akhtar out of the squad for the Commonwealth Games and include him in the side to Toronto.

Also not clear is the status of Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad, both actively involved in the county circuit. Their availability for Toronto is still to be confirmed.