November 7, 2003	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LAHORE, Nov 6: Pakistan cricket selectors in another mind boggling step have dropped Moin Khan, Rashid Latif and Saqlain Mushtaq from the 22-member probables named on Thursday for the forthcoming five-match ODIs series against New Zeland to be played during Nov 22-Dec 1.

Opener Saleem Elahi who had been in and out of the team and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal have been recalled after being ignored against South Africa.

The probables will report to the camp on Sunday.

Moin was recalled for the two Tests against South Africa while Rashid ruled himself out against the Proteas.

It seems that the controversial career of Rashid is over but nothing can be said about Moin.

Saleem last played in the World Cup held in southern Africa in Feb-March this year, however, chief selector Aamir Sohail clarified that the opener was included as a cover for Taufiq Umar, who had a slight  niggle in his knees.

“We do not want to take risk for Taufiq because of the important assignments ahead. Neverthless, I must appreciate  the sense of responsibility and commitment of Taufiq who conveyed  to us his availability for the one-day series.

“As far as Saleem is concerned, he was never out of our consideration.  Actually, we were waiting for him to  perform  in the domestic season and I am glad that he has shown the form  and fitness  very early in the competition.

“Also we are  thinking  on the lines that we might need an experienced opener someone  like Saleem if we decide against selecting Taufiq”, Aamir said.

On Kamran, Aamir said that the decision  to  include just one wicket-keeper in Kamran was a move for the future as far as one-day cricket was concerned. He had batted very well in  the domestic matches while his wicket-keeping was quite good, he said.

Probables: Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Saleem Elahi, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousaf Youhana, Asim  Kamal, Misbah-ul- Haq, Bilal Asad, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar  Mahmood, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib  Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Rauf, Mohammad Irshad, Fahad Masood, Kamran Akmal  (wicketkeeper), Danish Kaneria.