KARACHI, Aug 5: Pakistan wicket-keeper Moin Khan, a veteran of 210 One-day Internationals, is facing a serious challenge to retain his place in the national one-day squad for the forthcoming assignments in the Netherlands and England.
The national selection committee, which meets here on Friday, is almost certain to bring about several changes in the makeup of the squad after Pakistan's failure to defend their Asia Cup title in Sri Lanka recently.
Moin has been a great servant of Pakistan cricket both as a player and captain. A contemporary of Rashid Latif throughout his career, Moin had to compete with Rashid for the wicket-keeper's slot time and again.
But being a fierce competitor, Moin may still find a place, at least for the Champions Trophy. Inzamamul Haq, the Pakistan captain, has openly backed the experienced campaigner.
Wasim Bari, the chairman of selectors, hinted on Wednesday that his committee is already focussing its attention towards forming a nucleus of players for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
In the scheme of things, Moin, who turns 33 next month, is unlikely to be around to figure in the selectors' plans. The same applies for Inzamam who is already 34.
Pakistan's inconsistent ODI record this year - a 4-1 drubbing in New Zealand, a 3-2 loss to India at home followed by the team's exit before the Asia Cup final - is one reason the selectors feel that changes are imperative with the future in mind.
Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, however has asked the selectors not to go for drastic changes so soon. The high-profile foreign coach wants continuity and consistency in team selection.
Bari and his fellow selectors, Iqbal Qasim, Ehteshamuddin and Sultan Rana (currently managing the Pakistan 'A' squad in Kenya) apart from picking the squad for the tri-series in the Netherlands and the ICC Champions Trophy in England, will also name around 30 fringe players at Woolmer's request.
Woolmer, who had flown back to his home in South Africa straight from Colombo, will take charge of a four-day Pakistan camp next week, which also will be attended those fringe players.
Imran Nazir, the 22-year-old opener, is likely to be axed after his latest comeback during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka ended on a dismal note with a paltry return of 52 runs in four outings. Despite given unlimited opportunities to cement a place in the senior squad Imran has failed miserably.
Danish Kaneria, the leg-spinner, according to the selectors is not going to be a threat in unfamiliar European conditions and could be a surplus on the forthcoming tour. Moreover, he made just one appearance on the spin-friendly pitches in Colombo.
Mohammad Hafeez, who has been overlooked since the home series against South Africa last October and due to indifferent form and injuries is fit now and is sure to get the selectors' nod as a utility player who can bat anywhere.
Other plus points for the 23-year-old are that he is a brilliant fielder and a useful off-spinner. On his first appearance in England during the NatWest Challenge last year, he was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for a career-best 69 at Old Trafford.
Imran Nazir's departure is likely to open the door for Salman Butt, the 19-year-old left-handed opener who has yet to play in One-day Internationals. The former Pakistan junior captain has a solitary Test cap to his credit when he played against Bangladesh at Multan last September.
Salman, currently touring Kenya with the 'A' squad, is also considered a good fielder. Umar Gul, the pace bowler, who has been out of action since his match-winning performance against India in the Lahore Test in April, is restored to full fitness.
But he is unlikely to be risked just as yet as the selectors want him to be in top shape for the Test tour of Australia later in the year. Azhar Mahmood, the all-rounder now confined among the also-rans, has also an outside chance to add to his 134 one-day caps, probably at the expense of Rana Naveedul Hasan.
LIKELY SQUAD FOR CHAMPIONS TROPHY: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Rana Naveedul Hasan.
