28 September 2004	Tuesday	12 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 27: National cricket selectors on Monday named 23-year-old uncapped batsman Bazid Khan in the Pakistan squad for the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe , while Imran Farhat was axed following a string of low scores in the recent tournaments.

Besides Imran, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who was in the Champion Trophy squad as a replacement for the injured pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed, was also dropped.

The selectors recalled batsman Misbahul Haq and the medium-pacer Rao Iftikhar. Both Misbah and Iftikhar, who is yet to be capped, were in the squad during the one-day home series against India last March.

Bazid, son of the former Pakistan captain Majid Khan, was rewarded for his consistent performance in the last domestic season and on the tour of Kenya with the Pakistan 'A' side.

Wicket-keeper Moin Khan, who turned 33 last week, retained his place despite poor form with the bat during Holland tri-series and the Champions Trophy in England where he aggregated only 43 runs in five innings.

Wasim Bari, the chairman of selectors, told Dawn that like Bazid, both Misbah and Iftikhar were outstanding in the Kenyan tournament. "We wanted to include another new player besides Bazid. But in the end, we opted for Misbah and Iftikhar because we felt that they deserve to be recalled," Bari said. "Bazid, who normally bats at No 3, could be asked to open the innings since he is technically correct and has the temperament to succeed at the international level.

"Obviously, we are glad that he has made it to the squad purely on merit and not because of his illustrious father who was a great player for Pakistan." On the exclusion of the left-handed opener Imran Farhat, Bari remarked: "We honestly felt that he needs a break for the time being. In the meantime, both he and Asim Kamal will work on their fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore."

Bari further added that the team management has been requested to rotate fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami during the one-day series so that they remain fresh and fit for the Tests against Sri Lanka.

"Both Shoaib and Sami are our main strike bowlers. It is imperative that they get proper rest after playing in cold weather in Holland and England. The difference in playing conditions should always be kept in mind."

Commenting on the performance during the semifinal defeat in the Champions Trophy, Bari said the team lost because it lacked in application. "Pakistan were beaten simply because the boys played badly that day against the West Indies. Somehow, they failed to apply themselves in the prevailing conditions.

"Good team always learns from mistakes and our boys should be doing the same so that the same mistakes are not repeated," he stressed. The chief selector also confirmed that Asim Kamal, who played several dogged innings during the Test rubber against India, will bat at No 3 in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

"Asim is a definite selection for the Tests. It's about time that he should bat at No 3 where he will be very useful since he is a gutsy, compact player who plays within his limitations."

SQUAD: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yasir Hameed, Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Bazid Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Misbahul Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Rao Iftikhar.