KARACHI, Dec 26: The selection committee will have no objections if the touring management of national team decides to retain any player for the three-match One-day International series against arch-rivals India, chief selector Iqbal Qasim said on Wednesday.

“It’s up to the touring management to retain any player for the ODI series after the Twenty20 series in the interest of the team,” Iqbal said, adding Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf was the final authority to take decision on any request of the team management.

It is to be noted that ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq had already indicated that they might consider veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the three-match ODI series against India after the two-match T20 series.

A brilliant batting display by former skipper Shoaib Malik powering Pakistan to an exciting five-wicket victory over India in the opening T20 International in Bangalore on Tuesday has also put him into the reckoning for the ODIs.

“Malik proved his vast experience in the game’s shortest version by striking a match-winning half-century, and sharing a century stand with captain Mohammad Hafeez in the process,” Iqbal, a former left-arm Test spinner, stated.

“This T20 win is definitely huge considering the fact that Pakistan slumped to 12-3. Malik and Hafeez batted remarkably,” he commented.

Iqbal hoped that Hafeez’s team would carry the winning momentum into the second and final T20, scheduled for Ahmedabad on Friday.—APP