Pakistan announced a 14-man team for the one-day series against world champions Australia next month with allrounder Abdur Razzaq and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq missing. "We have selected the best possible team for a series against the best team in the world," said chief selector Wasim Bari. Razzaq, who won the player of the series award in a tri-series in Australia two years ago, is making his debut for English county Middlesex. Saqlain is busy playing for Surrey and neither was available for selection, Bari revealed.

Pakistan play two indoor limited over internationals at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne on June 12 and 15 before moving to Brisbane for the third match on June 19. The series is billed as the "clash of giants" after Pakistan finished runners-up to Australia in the last World Cup held in England three years ago. It would also set the tempo for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

"It will be a good learning experience for youngsters in Australia and allrounder Azhar Mahmood and off-spinner Shoaib Malik will get exposure in place of Razzaq and Saqlain," Bari said.

Waqar Younis was retained as captain for the one-day series. "Maintaining our policy of naming the captain series by series we have decided to retain him as captain for the series," said Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Tauqir Zia.

The 14-man squad will assemble at Gadafi stadium in Lahore on May 29 for a short training camp before leaving for Australia on June 5. Australia have already named its squad with Ricky Ponting the captain.

Pakistan and Australia are scheduled to play a series in Pakistan later this year, also involving New Zealand, but this is now in doubt after a bomb blast in Karachi on May 8. The Australian Cricket Board says they are monitoring the situation in Pakistan before taking a final decision but have hinted at playing the series at a neutral venue.

Pakistan Waqar Younis (capt), Inzamam-ul Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Misbahul Haq and Mohammad Sami.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd