Wasim Akram on Saturday had vowed never to lead Pakistan again. But board sources said his place in the national team was also doubtful. The cricket board has provided relevant material to its probe committee which has been directed to prepare and submit a detailed report on the basis of which the authorities can take any action. Justice Ijaz Yousuf, Balochistan High Court Judge, is a member of that committee.
The board officials were also unsure of the fact if Wasim Akram has regained complete fitness from a bowling shoulder injury. Sources said Akram had told cricket officials on Saturday that he would be playing a Patron's Trophy match for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the National Stadium. The match begins from Jan 10. ``We will closely monitor Akram's bowling in that game before deciding whether to select him or not. But one thing for sure is that he (Wasim Akram) is no more an automatic selection,'' sources, requesting not to be quoted, said.
Waqar Younis, who was left out of the Dhaka triangular team along with Wasim Akram, is said to have lost his pace and venom. The selectors, according to sources, were of the view that the pacer was also struggling to get into his bowling rhythm.
``He could have sorted out his problems by playing in the domestic circuit. But he didn't. We have serious reservations if he is fit,'' sources said.
The board officials admitted that Younis was only 26 years of age but said ``only on paper. We doubt if he has told his real age. We suspect he is 30 as his bowling shows. His body has refused to take further strain and that may be one of the prime reasons for decline in his strike-rate.''
These stern observations of the authorities on the two lethal bowlers are believed to be because of three reasons. 1 - The PCB chief executive Majid Khan's statement that the two were past their prime and no more could run through the innings, 2 - the selectors policy of injecting fresh blood, 3 - to weed out the players suspected of match-fixing. It may be recalled that Salim Malik was discarded after Toronto's Sahara Cup on similar grounds though the batsman scored 237 runs in three Tests last year. Need not to mention the PCB's hit-list of four players comprising Salim Malik, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Ijaz Ahmad. But the experts of the game believe that South African tour was a gruelling one and the inclusion of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis was a must. They argued that the wickets in South Africa were bouncy and seaming ones which would give Pakistan the edge over the hosts if the new ball was shared by the two speedsters.
Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have shared 572 wickets between them with Akram (334) having represented Pakistan in 72 and Younis (238) in 48 Tests.
The selectors have apparently pinned down their hopes on Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzak, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Zahid though the latter is still on the casualty list and trying to regain fitness after undergoing back surgery last August.
The chairman of selectors, Salim Altaf, said from his Lahore residence on Sunday that the selectors would meet either on Tuesday or Wednesday ``depending upon the arrival of Zaheer Abbas from Karachi.'' He said since the tour would be a long one, he would like to ask the board to have a 16-man team ``but it depends entirely on the board how many players have to go.''
South Africa came here with 15 players and according to reciprocity they would entertain an equal number of players when Pakistan reach there early next month.
The chief selector refused to indulge himself when asked if his panel would be axing Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. ``It is matter of just two or three days and you will get the answer yourself. I don't want to comment at the moment because it was quite premature.''
He, however, did indicate that the selectors would surprise the followers of the game when he said: ``We might give a jolt to a couple of players.''
Altaf, who leaves for South Africa as Pakistan Under-19 manager on Wednesday evening, said the selectors would submit their team to the cricket authorities on the day they finalise the side. ``The authorities, if they deemed it necessary, would make changes in the team in the background of national team's performance in Dhaka,'' he said.
He said three or four one-day specialists will be named later on when the tour enters the one-day stage. ``They will replace those who will go there primarily for Test matches.''
Shahid Afridi, Aqib Javed and Manzoor Akhtar are believed to be those players.
With the fate of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis undecided, the remaining 13 players may be:
Rashid Latif (captain), Saeed Anwar (vice-captain), Aamir Sohail, Ali Naqvi, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamamul Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Hasan Raza, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzak, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad.