LAHORE, Nov 22: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in another u-turn dropped controversial paceman Junaid Zia from the 15-member squad which was announced only 24 hours before for the five One-day International home series against New Zealand starting from  Nov 29.

Paceman Umar Gul had replaced Junaid. Umar was the original probable of the training camp, but for reasons known to confused chief selector was dropped to induct Junaid, the son of PCB ad hoc committee chairman, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tauqir Zia.

Instead Umar was named in the Pakistan “A” team, which was also announced on Friday for its Indian’s tour in December. Now Junaid will go to India in place of Umar.

The selectors had included Junaid with the consent of the team management despite the fact the bowler was not invited for the camp which has been in progress since Nov 10. Junaid was only called for a practice match held last Thursday and included in the 15-man squad by the selectors perhaps to please their boss.

The national press and the general public expressed  resentment over the decision and PCB ad hoc committee chairman, who had approved the list of 15 players on Friday, bowed to that pressure and dropped his son.

Chief selector Aamir Sohail said that PCB chairman instructed him to include Junaid in the Pakistan “A” team.

However, Aamir still claimed that Junaid had great potential and it was unfortunate that he would not be playing against New Zealand.

Aamir had also appointed Junaid as captain of the Pakistan Emerging team which won the three-nation tournament in Sri Lanka in October this year.

 But again the public and national press forced PCB to reverse it’s decision within 24 hours replacing Junaid with Qaisar Abbas.