05 January 2005	Wednesday	23 Ziqa'ad 1425

LAHORE, Jan 4: Pakistan have recalled all-rounders Azhar Mahmood and Mohammad Hafeez, opener Taufiq Umar and medium pacer Iftikhar Rao to join beleagured Pakistan's 16-man squad for tri-nation series involving hosts Australia and the West Indies.

Those who will be returning home to make way for the foursome are injured pace man Mohammad Sami, leg spinner Danish Kaneira, batsmen Imran Farhat, Asim Kamal and medium pacer Mohammad Asif.

However, skipper Inzamamul Haq who missed the last two Tests and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have surprisingly declared themselves fit. Another utility player Shoaib Malik who missed the third Test with an injury too has been cleared for the tri-nation.

Pakistan take on hosts Australia and the West Indies in the tri-series starting from Jan 14. Pakistan play their first match against Australia on Jan 16 in the league phase and the top two teams will then qualify for the best-of-three finals.

Azhar, who plays for Surrey in the English county championship, played the last of his 134 one-day internationals in New Zealand in January last year. The team management has assured Inzamam, Shoaib and Razzaq are available for the One-dayers but Sami's injury will take three weeks," chief selector Wasim Bari told Dawn.

Bari admitted that he had suggested the team management not send back Kaneria, who had emerged the most successful bowler of the Test series by far taking 14 wickets.

"Yes, I consider the spinner delivered goods and his stay will strengthen the team but the team management has different views, saying the bowler had been tired much after relentless bowling in Test matches," he said.

Bari also disclosed that wicket keeper Moin Khan was the demand of the team management, but since, Kamran Akmal had done a good job it was not a better time to drop him. "Kamran, in a high profile series, has proved he has talent and within the passage of time he will improve further," Bari said.

SQUAD: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana (vice captain), Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Khalil, Rao Iftikhar, Rana Navedul Hassan.