August 24, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 25

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KARACHI, Aug 23: Pakistan suffered a blow on Saturday when Mohammad Sami’s expected return for the third Test against Bangladesh was ruled out by Aamir Sohail, the chairman of selectors.

“It is a bad good news for Pakistan because the bone scan has revealed a hairline fracture,” declared Aamir. “The doctors have anticipated that he (Sami) is certain to miss out of the reminder of the series against Bangladesh.”

Sami returned home after twisting his ankle while playing for English county side Kent recently and was advised a four-week rest.

The 22-year-old fast bowler is also a doubtful starter for the five-match one-day series that kicks off on Sept 9 in Multan and ends with the final game here on Sept 21.

The selectors were hoping to Sami play in the final match of the three-Test against Bangladesh in Multan after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to allow strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar to complete his stint with Durham after the first two Bangladesh Tests.

Shoaib, ironically, was summoned from England to replace the injured Sami, but the selectors may now ask him to play in the last Test given the inexperienced look of the Pakistan’s bowling attack despite his indifferent form in the first Test here.

Meanwhile, the selectors have also decided to retain the Inzamam-ul-Haq in an unchanged squad for the second Test, starting at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, from Wednesday.

Inzamam was out without scoring in the first innings of the Karachi Test after being sidelined for more than five months. The big man had a rough ride during the World Cup in southern Africa where he mustered only 19 runs in six matches during Pakistan’s first-round exit and was subsequently dumped with seven other players.

According to a PCB spokesman Inzamam needs to be boosted to regain his confidence and form.

“The selectors have opted to keep a consistent policy and give ample chance to every player to prove his worth,” the spokesman said.

He added that the performance of the squad will be reviewed after the second Test if the selectors go for any changes.

Squad: Rashid Latif (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul, Shoaib Malik, Farhan Adil, Saeed bin Nisar, Mohammad Khalil.