November 30, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 29: Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari on Wednesday said fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed will not be an automatic selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the lanky pacer would have to show his form for inclusion in the side.

“He (Shabbir) will have to play some domestic games to regain form and to get himself eligible for selection since he has been out of action for almost a year” Bari, a former Test cricketer told reporters at the National Stadium.

Shabbir's bowling action was given all clear by the Australian experts on Tuesday and the tall pacer is likely to be available for selection in the national side for the tough South African tour since his ban expires on December 18. The one-year ban was handed to him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he was reported twice for illegal bowling action last year.

Pakistan will be playing three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals against South Africa in their last series before the next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

Commenting on Pakistan’s one-day squad for the five-match series against the West Indies, Bari said the announcement of the 15-member team will be made on Thursday after the selection committee meeting.

He informed that he had already met skipper Inzamamul Haq and coach Bob Woolmer to discuss the selection process and players’ form for the series.

He confirmed that players performing well in the Patron's Trophy tournament would also be considered for the ODI clashes. Bari disclosed that that the selectors were also awaiting a decision from the PCB appeals committee which will decide the fate of banned fast bowlers Shoaib Akhter and Muhammad Asif sometimes this week. “If the bans against the two pacers are lifted, they will also be considered for the upcoming one-day series.”

A Three-member committee headed by Justice Fakhruddin is expected to announce their verdict on Friday regarding the bans on Shoaib and Asif.