LAHORE, Oct 28: World-class all-rounder Wasim Akram has been handed back captaincy while four discarded players, wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, paceman Aaqib Javed, dashing stroke-player Shahid Afridi and left-arm spinner Muhammad Husain have been re-inducted into the 14-member Pakistan team which will take part in the Quadrangular Floodlit Cricket Tournament at the Qadhafi Stadium from November 1 to 8.
PakistanCricket Board (PCB) secretary Waqar Ahmad announced the team after selectors met at the Qadhafi Stadium to finalise the squad. The re-instated captain Wasim Akram was also called to the PCB headquarters before releasing the team to the impatiently-waiting mediamen, who kept roaming about the Qadhafi Stadium for the whole day on Tuesday.
Out of the Pakistani eleven handed down shocking defeat by South Africa on last day of the third cricket Test at Faisalabad on Monday, young opener Ali Naqvi and right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad are the only players excluded. Ali Naqvi did not find favour with the selectors. As for theexperienced, diminutive spinner Mushtaq Ahmad, he has had recurrence of knee trouble. While receiving the ``Man-of-the-Series'' award at the conclusion of the Faisalabad Test, Mushtaq Ahmad had confirmed that he had opted out of this tournament to have much-needed rest because his knee was bothering him again. Mushtaq Ahmad's knee had to be operated upon in Canada last year after the first Sahara Cup Cricket Tournament against India, where he gave fine performance. He also had to sit out of many matches of his adopted county Somerset during the recently-concluded English cricket season. He also did not play in the second Sahara Cup Cricket Tournament this year but made himself available for the Test series against South Africa. Mushtaq Ahmad is expected to be fit for the forthcoming home series against the West Indies which willbeplayed after the QuadrangularFloodlitCricket Tournament.
Faisalabad's young Test paceman Shahid Nazir was among the 13 players named for the last Test against South Africa but he has not been included in this Pakistan team. Middle-order batsman Muhammad Waseem, who captained junior Pakistani teams successfully and made his Test debut against New Zealand, was among the 13 players named for the Faisalabad Test. He held two brilliant catches in slips off Wasim Akram while substituting for injured Aamir Sohail and perhaps that has helped him in getting the selectors' nod.
The world-class opener Saeed Anwar, who gave a dazzling performance against India by creating a world record of 194 runs in one-day internationals during the Independence Cup Cricket Tournament but has recently been having a bad patch, has been relieved off the captaincy to give him a chance to re-build.
The South African team has exhibited its skill in this department in every part of the world, wherever it has played. The world Cup champion Sri Lanka team also excels in fielding besides batting and fielding. The West Indies team, although has not been registering successes lately, yet consists of some outstanding fielders, incomparable batsmen like Brian Lara and experienced world-class bowlers like Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop besides some highly-talented youngsters.
Effort has been made to re-furbish the Pakistan team by recalling an in-form experienced paceman like Aaqib Javed, a wicketkeeper of proven merit like Rashid Latif, a brilliant stroke-player Shahid Afridi and useful specialistleft-arm spinner Muhammad Husain, who has proved to be one of the most talented fielders of the country.
The Pakistan team has two specialist wicketkeepers Rashid Latif and Moin Khan, who are also reliable batsmen. It has three specialist openers Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail and Shahid Afridi. For the middle-order batting, selectors have pinned hopes on Ejaz Ahmad Senior, Inzimam-ul-Haq and Muhammad Waseem. The pace department has been entrusted to world-class toe-crusher Waqar Younis, a very effective seam bowler Aaqib Javed, young Azhar Mahmood and world-class left-arm paceman Captain Wasim Akram. The skipper himself, besides being a lethal bowler is a good fielder and an exciting stroke-player. Like Wasim Akram, young Azhar Mahmood will also strengthen the middle-order batting.
Inclusion of left-arm Muhammad Husain will bring variety in spin-bowling. Saqlain Mushtaq is an excellent off-spinner.
The Pakistan team is capable of rising to great heights as it had showed during the World Cup Cricket Tournament at Melbourne in 1992 but can also sink to unbelievable depths as it did by losing to South Africa on last day of the third Test at Faisalabad on Monday. The change in captaincy and inclusion of some discarded but highly-deserving players may again lift the morale of the Pakistan team during the Quadrangular Floodlit Cricket Tournament which is at the lowest ebb due to recent debacles in Toronto and in Faisalabad.
The 14-member Pakistan team is:
Captain Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Rashid Latif, Ejaz Ahmad Senior, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Waseem, Aamir Sohail, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Muhammad Husain. Coach: Haroon Rashid. Physiotherapist: Dr Dan Kiesel.