November 06, 2006	Monday	Shawwal 13, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 5: National cricket selectors will meet here on Monday to finalise a 15-man squad for first Test of the home series against West Indies, which starts here from Saturday.

Chief selector Wasim Bari said on Sunday he would meet Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer to finalise the best available lot for the important series.

“The series is much important for Pakistan if you see the form and competitive cricket, the West Indies have displayed in the Champions Trophy and also the crisis which hit Pakistan cricket in past two months,” Bari said.

He hinted at some changes but he refused to confirm when asked on which performance he would justify the inclusion of players like Mohammad Sami, Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed, all of whom failed to make much impact in the opening matches of the new first-class season.

Interestingly, the selectors would have to finalise the squad by Monday because the selected players are due to assemble at the National Cricket Academy on Tuesday. The selectors face another dilemma some players will figure in a two-day match against West Indies at Bagh-i-Jinnah from Wednesday.

Besides Salman, Yasir, Sami, other prominent names in the 13-member Patron’s XI squad are Bazid Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal, who will lead the side, Shahid Nazir and slow left-armer Abdul Rehman.

The West Indies are scheduled to arrive here on Monday night.