October 13, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 30, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 12: Four players were recalled on Friday as the selection committee announced a 15-member Pakistan squad for the first three One-day Internationals against South Africa.

Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Imran Nazir and Rao Iftikhar have been recalled while three players, who were part of the second Test squad — Faisal Iqbal, Taufiq Umar and Danish Kaneria — were axed. The fourth player for the ODIs replaced Inzamam-ul-Haq who quit international cricket after playing his last Test in Lahore on Friday.

From the World Twenty20 point of view there were only two changes in the squad for the ODIs against South Africa. Yasir Arafat and Fawad Alam were the omissions.

Announcing the squad, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmad said injured Mohammad Asif was retained in the team, hoping he would be fit before the start of the one-day series.

“Asif is our key bowler and our first priority; hopefully he will recover from a nagging elbow injury in time,” he said.

Asif’s elbow injury pain recurred during the second Test against South Africa. The chief selector said Yasir Arafat was not ignored as the all-rounder had been selected for the Super Sixes tournament, to be held in Hong Kong. About Fawad Alam, Salahuddin explained the young all-rounder had been dropped because Abdul Rehman did a good job in the Test against South Africa and deserved a place in the ODI series, too.

He further said that all-rounder Sohail Tanvir was retained for his excellent performance in the World Twenty20, adding the doors were open for all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to perform in domestic cricket for getting his place back in the team.

The chief selector hailed Inzamam-ul-Haq who ended his international career with the Lahore’s Test against South Africa on Friday.

“A player like Inzamam is not born everyday. He was a class in himself and the selection committee wishes to pay him tribute for the services he has rendered to Pakistan cricket,” he expressed.

About Shoaib Akhtar, the chief selector, flanked by two members — Shafqat Rana and Saleem Jaffar — said the fast bowler, after facing a harsh punishment for acts of indiscipline, could be selected for the last ODI, to be held in Karachi, though added that the paceman had to prove his form and fitness.

“We want the services of Shoaib Akhtar; however only a fit bowler is useful for the team,” he asserted.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Umar Gul, Yasir Hameed, Abdul Rehman, Sohail Tanvir.