September 8, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Saani29,1423

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KARACHI, Sept 7: The Pakistan cricket selectors have decided to drop Saeed Anwar from the ICC Champions Trophy starting in Colombo Thursday.

The selectors held discussions amongst themselves over telephone Saturday in which they took the decision. However, they insisted that it remained the prerogative of the team management which player they wanted to release.

“Saturday’s development is that Saeed Anwar has to return. But let’s see if the tour team management agrees to our decision,” a selector said.

The tour management has to release at least two players after the selectors decided to send left-handed opener Imran Farhat and retain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Imran flies out along with Yousuf Youhana Sunday afternoon for Colombo where the Pakistan team arrives later in the day.

Indications are that Azhar Mahmood could be the other player besides Saeed to return home although Imran Nazir also had a dismal run with the bat in Tangiers and Nairobi. He, however, may escape the axe because of his fielding abilities.

“Saeed lacks fitness and form. Besides, he is not mentally in the game. It was on these facts that we decided to pull him out to give him more time to recover his form for future endeavours,” the selector added.

Saeed aggregated 151 runs from eight matches in Tangiers and Nairobi at 18.78, including 70 against Sri Lanka.

Saeed’s return could have been inevitable had Saqlain Mushtaq agreed to join the team in Colombo. But the champion spinner excused himself from the assignment saying he was still nursing his sick wife who is expecting a child.

Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the opening match. The winner will guarantee a place in the semifinal as the third team in the group is Holland.