January 09, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 18, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 8: With many key events unfolding on Monday for Pakistan cricket in a span of just three to four hours including reports of injuries to Umar Gul and Shoaib Malik as well as Shoaib Akhtar’s departure for South Africa, a total lack of coodination was seen among the Pakistan Cricket Board officials regarding the same.

While the PCB had announced the decision of sending Shoaib Akhtar early Monday evening in Islamabad, chief selector Wasim Bari kept insisting that no final decision had been taken regarding the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ and he was still in negotiations with the team management over the issue of Umar Gul.

"I have just replied to an e-mail I received from coach Bob Woolmer and asked about his final decision regarding Umar Gul so that the selectors take the case up accordingly," he stated at a time when a private TV channel was already relaying the news of Shoaib’s call-up, quoting a senior PCB official.

When informed about the development, Bari was quick to add: "I don't know who made the announcement in Islamabad but I have just received the request from the team management to send either Shoaib or Shabbir."

It appeared as if Dr Nasim Ashraf's secretariat in Islamabad, in a bid to outsmart Bari, had announced the decision without waiting for final confirmation from the selectors.

There were also reports that the Pakistan team management in South Africa was directly in negotiations with the PCB chairman over the issue and had by-passed the selection committee. It was also being said that the decision of sending Shoaib was dictated to the team management by the PCB due to pressure from cricketing circles within the country after the fast bowler was ignored in the original 17-member squad.

Bari, however, tried to clarify the position on Shoaib while talking to Dawn on Monday: "Shoaib was dropped from the 17-member squad only because he was not match-fit. But as he has been bowling well in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match he is our first choice now," Bari said.

Asked whether Shoaib's performance against the lowly-rated Abbottabad could be a yardstick for his fitness, the chief selector replied: "No one can challenge the calibre of Shoaib Akhtar as a world class bowler and no doubt he is a match-winner. He is only playing the match to prove match fitness."

"To me it does not matter if Shoaib bowled just five or eight overs in the match. I consider him match-fit if he is playing and bowling well."