The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Majid Khan told this reporter in an exclusive meeting on Monday afternoon that the selectors recommended the name of Muhammad Akram to fill the 14th slot in the Toronto-bound Pakistan cricket team. That would leave for Canada on the 10th of this month and take part in the second Sahara Cup Cricket series against the Indian side from the 13th. The Indian team has also been already chosen.
In fact, the 14 players of the Pakistan cricket team for the series had been picked much before the Indian team was finalised. However, the PCB Council had to drop young paceman Shoaib Akhtar on the day of its meeting (August 23). That very day a facsimile message was received from the Pakistan ``A'' cricket team manager Justice Ijaz Yousaf, who had complained about ``misbehaviour'' of the youngster during the tour of Britain and advised not to include him in the Pakistan squad despite the fact that the boy had done well as a fast bowler.
``The selectors put to trial the other young Test paceman Shahid Nazir, who was a strong candidate for inclusion into the side, but were not satisfied with his fitness and form. They have given their verdict in favour of Muhammad Akram'', said the former Test captain and now the PCB chief executive Majid Khan.
Majid Khan has been suffering from flu for some days and looked somewhat improved on Monday.
While replying to a question, the stylish former Test opener Majid Khan said that the Pakistan Cricket Camp continuing at Karachi could not be shifted to Lahore within a few days. He said that you could yourself guess the condition of the Qadhafi Stadium.
``The torrential rains which lashed Lahore last week had inundated the Qadhafi Stadium. For that very reason the camp had been shifted to Karachi. Now, special efforts have been made to pump out water but it will take some days before the square and ground is put in proper shape. Only then can we shift the camp tothe PCB headquarter'', explained Majid Khan while replying to a question.
The Toronto-bound Pakistan team captain Ramiz Raja, who returned on Saturday after holidaying in Britain, told this reporter in a brief chat on Monday morning that he was scheduled to reach Karachi in the evening. In all probability, Ramiz Raja will resume training in the camp on Tuesday.
The re-induction of Muhammad Akram into the Pakistan cricket team after pretty long time has set at rest the uncertainty prevailing over the final shape of the Pakistan team which is to face the Indian side in the second edition of the Sahara Cup. The Pakistan team had won the first five-match Sahara Cup Cricket series last year by three matches to two (3-2).
The Pakistan team has been considerably weakened in the bowling department due to absence of the world-class pace-bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and the match-winning right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad. Unfortunately, Captain Wasim Akram has not recovered after operations of his functional shoulder. The left shoulder of the great left-arm all-rounder had nagging injury. That did not allow him to fully represent his county Lancashire duringthe current English cricket season. Hehasbeen convalescing but the cricket enthusiasts would enjoy his comments during the telecast of five matches of the second Sahara Cup series.
Spinner Mushtaq Ahmad had played important part in winning the first Sahara Cup Cricket series against India last year on the turning Toronto pitches. He would be sorely missed this time like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Mention of the speed-merchant Waqar Younis reminds one that the lethal bowler has expressed his inability to play for the Pakistan team because he was busy in helping his county Glamorgan in gaining top-berth in the All-England Championship.
Comeback of somewhat experienced Muhammad Akram may give somerespectability to the Pakistani pace-attack. Ithas experienced Aaqib Javed but the other medium-pacers Kabir Khan and Azhar Mahmood are although talented yet may not be able to deliver the goods on the heart-breaking pitches.
The Pakistani spin-attack has lost sting due to absence of Mushtaq Ahmad, who has been choosy in playing matches for Somerset county in Britain due to knee-trouble. He got himself operated upon last year but the trouble seemed to be bothering him again. He had also informed the PCB like Wasim Akram that he was not hundred per cent fit and could not withstand the rigours of the five gruelling one-day international matches against the arch-rival Indian side. In his absence, the highly-talented Saqlain Mushtaq will have to bear the brunt of spin-bowling. He will have support from the only right-arm leg-spinner in the side Shahid Afridi. Both will be backed up by the less experienced left-arm Test spinner Muhamad Husain.
Moin Khan is the only wicketkeeper of the team. The Pakistani batting is pretty strong and Captain Ramiz Raja's bunchof batsmen could help Pakistan register another win over India in the series. Besides Ramiz Raja and Shahid Afridi the other opener is Saeed Anwar, who carved out a world-record of 194 runs against India in a recent tournament. He can prove to be a trump-card of the Pakistan team if he got going. The middle-order batting is also very strong and has the experienced players like Salim Malik, Ejaz Ahmad Senior, Inzimam-ul-Haq and a prodigious young stroke-player Hasan Raza.
The 17-member Pakistan team is: Captain Ramiz Raja, Vice-captain Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Salim Malik, Ejaz Ahmad Senior, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan, Hasan Raza, Azhar Mahmood, Muhammad Akram, Aaqib Javed, Kabir Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Muhammad Husain. Manager: Maazullah Khan. Coach: Haroon Rashid. Physiotherapist: Dr Dan Kiesel.