March 25, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

KARACHI, March 24: Pakistan selectors have ignored some of the talented junior players for the training camp beginning on Tuesday as they look to put together a squad for next month’s Under-21 tour of South Africa.

The Islahuddin Siddiqui-led selection committee — with Lt-Col Mudassar Asghar and Samiullah as its members — while naming the probables have omitted promising forward Azlan Khan from the list for reasons best known to them. Besides being a confident right-in, Azlan is also a talented penalty corner striker who could have strengthened the team in the forthcoming contest.

Also, goalkeeper Imran Shah has been called into the camp despite his chequered disciplinary record. The player had once used abusive language against team manager Jahangir Butt after he was axed from the squad for the Kuala Lumpur event.

Interestingly, Imran has been given the nod by the same Jahangir this time. Sources say the goalkeeper has been accommodated by the official on the “intervention” of coach Danish Kaleem who forced Imran to tender an apology for misbehaving with the manager.

At least five other relatively unknown players including Wasif Siddique, Rizwan, Mohammad Akbar, Amir and Rashid Ali have surprisingly been invited for the camp. The series against South Africa commences from April 16.

Pakistan are preparing for the 2009 Junior World Cup which will be jointly organised by Malaysia and Singapore.