May 07, 2007	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1428

KARACHI, May 6: After weeks of logistic uncertainty over the three-match offshore series of one-dayers against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, the new national selection committee, headed by Salahuddin Ahmed, is set to name on Monday the Pakistan squad for their first post-World Cup assignment.

Salahuddin and his committee members, Shafqat Rana and Saleem Jaffar, will decide on a 15-man squad on Monday after taking the input of new Pakistan captain, Shoaib Malik, before submitting the list to the PCB which will then announce the squad later in the day after a meeting of its ad hoc committee.

The one-day series, which was originally scheduled for May 9 to 16, had to be put back because the organizers, Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, was unable to strike a proper sponsorship deal since the total expenditure of staging the series was reportedly about $2.4 million. In addition, the ADCC has managed to secure only $2 million through the sale of TV rights.

According to sources, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to receive $750,000 each as participating fee for the day/night fixtures to be played on May 18, 20 and 22.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PCB and the ADCC was still to be agreed upon, although a senior cricket board official claimed on Sunday that the document was received at the PCB headquarters on Saturday and was expected to be signed by Monday.

Pakistan, who were knocked out of the just-ended World Cup after a first-round shock defeat to minnows Ireland, are desperate to erase the tragic death of coach Bob Woolmer in mysterious circumstances the day after the Irish defeat.

The early World Cup exit also brought a tearful end to Inzamam-ul-Haq’s glittering 15-year One-day International career.

Further, Younis Khan, the longstanding Pakistan vice-captain, not only refused to lead the country after Inzamam’s departure, but also decided to make himself unavailable for the Abu Dhabi series. He is going great guns for Yorkshire in the English County Championship.

Left with no choice and after long deliberations, the PCB opted to gamble with Shoaib Malik by thrusting him into the hot seat of Pakistan captaincy.

The selectors, who braved the scorching summer heat of Lahore by umpiring the two trial fixtures to watch the probables at close quarters, have reportedly reached a consensus on appointing young paceman Mohammad Asif as the vice-captain for the coming series.

Pakistan are unlikely to make drastic changes to the squad that went to the West Indies since they are up against a buoyant Sri Lankan side which finished runners-up to undisputed world champions Australia in the quadrennial limited-overs showpiece event.

Although Sri Lanka will be competing without three of their key players — Muttiah Muralitharan (Lancashire), Chaminda Vaas (Middlesex) and Kumar Sangakkara (Warwickshire) — because of county commitments, Pakistan are certain to send a near-strength squad.

However, at the same time, the selectors will be tempted to blood a few youngsters while keeping in mind the importance of next season when Pakistan are scheduled to host South Africa and Australia besides undertaking a tour to India. Moreover, the national side is slated to play in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September

Talented Fawad Alam, a left-handed batting all-rounder, repeatedly made headlines in the long 2006-07 domestic season while off-spinners Tahir Khan and Atif Maqbool also performed creditably. It won’t surprise anyone if one of them came into contention for selection.

Likely squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf, Yasir Hameed, Shahid Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rehman.