May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

KARACHI, May 27: The Pakistan squad for next month’s tri-series in Bangladesh is expected to be announced by next week, according to the chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmed.

Salahuddin, while talking to Dawn on Tuesday, explained the selectors had planned to name the 15-man team earlier this month, but the non-availability of Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and national coach Geoff Lawson forced them to delay the announcement.

“Because we wanted to have the input [of Malik and Lawson] before we pick the squad. And since Malik is busy playing in the Indian Premier League and Lawson spending time with his family in Australia at the moment, we opted to delay the announcement until they return to Pakistan,” he said. “But once they are back, we will sit down for discussions before the best possible squad is named.”

Salahuddin also revealed that the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup, which begins simultaneously from June 24 in Karachi and Lahore, would be named after the tri-series tournament ends on June 14.

Meanwhile, the chief selector expressed his dismay at media reports saying the selectors were in dispute with Lawson.

“I can categorically say that there is no substance whatsoever in these [media] reports. It’s simply a propaganda wage to malign Pakistan cricket by attributing some of the nastiest things about our relationship with Lawson. In fact, we have very good understanding and rapport with the coach and the captain,” Salahuddin clarified.

“We always give weight and respect to their opinion regarding team selection. Of course, there are times when a difference of opinion between us arises, but it does not mean that we are involved in some kind of discord.”

According to reports circulating in the media, Lawson, who is a former Australian Test fast bowler, had misbehaved with Salahuddin at the selection committee meetings during the home ODI series against Bangladesh last month. The reports even suggested that Lawson had questioned Salahuddin’s credentials as the chief selector.

“I can vehemently say that nothing of this sort had happened and nor have I made any complaint to the PCB. Reports in the media are simply nothing but rubbish,” the chief selector remarked.