Saqlain recalled for Multan Test

Published August 31, 2003

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 30: Pakistan on Saturday summoned off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq for third and final Test against Bangladesh starting in Multan from Sept 3.

Saqlain missed the first two Tests to honour his contract with English county Surrey and was one of eight players dropped after Pakistan’s first round exit from the World Cup in March this year.

The off-spinner, who has 205 wickets in 47 Tests, preferred to stay with Surrey and made himself available for next month’s home series against South Africa.

Speed merchant Shoaib Akhtar will return to England to complete his contract with another English county Durham after helping Pakistan win the second Test to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in three match series.

Apart from Saqlain, the selectors also included middle-order batsman Younis Khan and three uncapped youngsters Salman Butt, Yasir Ali and Asim Kamal, who toured South Africa with the Pakistan Academy team.

Younis missed the first two Tests against Bangladesh due to domestic reasons.

Off-spinning allrounder Shoaib Malik and batsmen Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed bin Nasir were omitted from the 16-member squad.

Squad:

Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper) (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Shabbir Ahmad, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Farhan Adil, Salman Butt, Yasir Ali, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Khalil.

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