MULTAN, Sept 7: Pakistan’s powerless cricket selectors sprang a huge surprise on Sunday when the uncapped medium pacer Junaid Zia was named in the 14-man squad, for the first One-day International against Bangladesh, to be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Junaid, a right-arm medium-pacer who had been reported for suspect bowling action on several occasions, is the 19-year-old son of Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Given the sad state of affairs on which Pakistan cricket is being currently manipulated, Junaid’s inclusion comes as an anti-climax because of inconsistent policies of the five-man “yes-man” selection committee.

To many the inclusion, for the first time, in the senior of Junaid may be some sort of a surprise. But speculation in the last few weeks always pointed to his being tried out against Bangladesh ever since he was sent to South Africa last month as vice-captain of Pakistan Academy squad.

Once again the integrity of the national selection committee has to be questioned. Aamir Sohail, the chairman of this powerless and almost clueless body, did not announce the squad himself, as it is customary, at a press conference.

Instead, the media were informed of the squad by a PCB official. At the very same time when the squad was being revealed here, Aamir, meanwhile, was busy playing in a friendly game at Rawalpindi. By sheer coincidence, the PCB chairman was also reported to be taking part in the same match!

There was more drama for the media people when the PCB official first named the playing XI for Tuesday’s match with Junaid also in the team while senior batsman Younis Khan was relegated to the reserves. But sometime later, he (the PCB official) said that the final XI was yet to be announced.

This is the second instance of a high-ranking cricket board official’s closest relative being included in the full senior side. In 1977-78, Aamir Hameed, a medium-pace all-rounder and a nephew of Chaudhry Mohammad Hussain, the then head of the now defunct Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan, was fortunate enough to play in two One-day Internationals against England. He also toured that country some months later with Wasim Bari’s depleted side.

With just six first-class matches under his belt, having made his debut last season, Junaid has claimed 16 wickets at 26.62 each. But in 23 limited-overs games, he has taken 17 wickets while averaging 48. These figures speak for themselves as the PCB continues its rebuilding process drive offering Test and One-day caps without due merit.

In the recently concluded tour of South Africa Junaid took just two wickets in two matches while a Fahad Masood who claimed nine wickets in same number of matches has been overlooked.

Asoka de Silva, the ICC umpire who officiated in the Multan Test, was involved in a couple of unsavoury episodes with Junaid during the Youth Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2002. The Sri Lankan official called Junaid for chucking.

Meanwhile, in Rashid’s enforced absence, the PCB named Inzamam, the hero of the Multan Test with that unforgettable 138 not out, to captain the home side in the coming one-dayers against the Bangladeshis.

Opening batsman Imran Nazir and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, both of whom were not considered for the just-concluded Test series against Bangladesh, are recalled along with off-spinning all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Shoaib played in the second Test in Peshawar during which he was forced out of the game with groin injury.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is also being recalled, after Rashid Latif was handed a five-match ODI ban on Sunday, for his first international since playing during South Africa tour eight months ago.

The major exclusion in the squad is the of-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The 27-year-old featured in the Multan Test but the selectors have instead opted to overlook his impressive limited-overs record which has fetched him 288 wickets — averaging of 21.60 with a strike rate of 50 balls per wicket — in 168 One-day Internationals.

Middle-order batsman Farhan Adil and medium-pacer Yasir Ali, who both played in the final Test here, are also omitted from the one-day together with the Multan Test reserves, left-handed batsman Asim Kamal and left-arm paceman Mohammad Khalil.

Squad:

Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul, Junaid Zia, Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Danish Kaneria.