KARACHI: The Pakistan selectors on Friday decided against recalling the in-form Kamran Akmal for next month’s One-day International series against Australia, while honouring the ‘wishes’ of the touring team management.

Interestingly, 26-year-old Umar Akmal, eight years younger than his brother Kamran, managed to get the selectors’ nod for the five-match ODI rubber Down Under. Right-handed Umar, known for his daring yet many-a-times reckless batting that resulted in his axing from the national squad, has returned to the ODI fold after the 2015 World Cup.

Gangly Mohammad Irfan is only other inductee to the squad that featured in the 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies in the UAE last September-October, replacing the out-of-form leg-spinner Yasir Shah, while paceman Sohail Khan, who played in the final match of the one-day series against the West Indies has also been omitted.

Kamran had emerged the obvious choice for the four-man national selection committee — which includes former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as chairman with Tauseef Ahmed, Wajahatullah Wasti and Wasim Haider as members — following a prolific season during which the right-handed wicket-keeper/batsman amassed 1,035 runs for the newly-crowned Quaid-i-Azam Trophy champions Wapda.

Kamran also has shown terrific form in the ongoing National One-day Cup for Departments in which he had scored 361 runs with the aid of two centuries and even played purely as a batsman in Wapda’s last two fixtures in a bid to be considered for the Australia ODIs in that role but the selectors chose to retain Mohammad Rizwan, who has the backing of head coach Mickey Arthur and ODI skipper Azhar Ali.

Inzamam unveiled the 15-man squad for the Jan 13-27 series through a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media release after consultations with Arthur and Azhar.

In a single paragraph release, Inzamam was quoted as saying: “The ODI team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions in Australia and the performances of players in the recent ODI series against West Indies and in domestic cricket. The team is a fine blend of experience and youth, and the selectors have stick to the same combination of players selected against the West Indies earlier and believe that team will do well in the tour.”

But later talking to Dawn from Lahore, Inzamam defended the selections, while offering words of encouragement for Kamran, a veteran of 154 ODIs who last played in the format during the ICC Champions Trophy hosted by England in 2013.

“As per traditions in our culture we [selectors] took the stakeholders [captain and head coach] on board while taking into consideration the in-puts from them. And since they were a bit uneasy on too many changes from the squad that Pakistan had for the West Indies series, we were left with no option but to go with their choices for the being,” Inzamam.

The chief selector said Kamran shouldn’t be overly disappointed at being overlooked for the upcoming series and remains in the plans for assignments after the Australia tour.

“My message to Kamran is not to feel aggrieved at being not selected for the Australia fixtures after performing outstandingly in the current domestic season. There is a lot of cricket to come after the series and Kamran would definitely be rewarded for his excellent efforts,” Inzamam vowed.

The selection of Irfan, 34, in a predominantly left-arm bowling line-up means young paceman Hasan Ali is the solitary specialist right-arm bowler available to Azhar Ali.

Irfan, who hasn’t played any international since limping off during the fourth ODI against England at Headingley last summer, joins Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali in the five-man pace attack.

In the absence of Yasir, the spinning duties will be shared by left-handed all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Imad Wasim with Shoaib Malik’s off-spin offering option.

Meanwhile, Inzamam expressed his utter annoyance at Pakistan’s latest defeat which enabled Australia to wrap up the three-match Test series.

“I’m lost for words to be honest. If a team cannot survive 68 overs in perfect batting conditions, then what else can,” Inzamam asked. “They [Pakistan] lost from a seemingly safe position against New Zealand before travelling to Australia. This is just not one of the worst performances by any side but something which is simply too hard to accept.”

Inzamam issued a stern warning when he stated that if the current players continued to fare as they had done so far then the selectors would have no choice but to go for major overhaul for the future Test matches.

“If Pakistan do not improve as a team then we must [at our end] think otherwise on different lines to rectify the situation. We just cannot hope to keep on trusting the players who have been constantly failing of late,” Inzamam warned.

“The selectors would be better off trying out new faces and will not even mind if Pakistan lose some matches to begin with. But the guys coming in will gradually get accustomed to the experience of international cricket and start getting better.

“This is how one begins international career like we all did in the past. And some of us became greats of the game. I think time has definitely come for us to make tough decisions on selection matters.”

Squad:

Azhar Ali (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed (vice-captain, wicket-keeper), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2016