LAHORE, April 7: Opener Salman Butt, off-spinner Arshad Khan and medium-pacer Umar Gul were dropped as a 14-member Pakistan team was announced for back-to-back ODIs against India to be held in Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19 to raise funds for Oct 8's earthquake victims.

Three players were included in the Pakistan team which returned home on Sunday after a successful tour of Sri Lanka.

Salman, who is going through a bad patch was dropped for his poor form while Umar has been inducted in the Pakistan 'A' team, taking part in Euro-Asia Cup to be held at the same venue of Abu Dhabi from April 22 to May 5.

Arshad, who remained a joyrider as he did not play any of the two Test against Sri Lanka has been sidelined mainly because he is considered as a bowler more suitable for Test cricket.

Abdul Rahman, who was included for the three ODIs series against Sri Lanka, but returned home without making the debut was also included, with the hope of not being a joyrider again.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik, who has been playing with his troubling elbow since 2001, was also included in the team.

Malik is to get his elbow operated upon in South Africa on April 26.

Pakistan will get 75 per cent of the income of the first ODI while India will take 25 per cent. Two boards will share equally the income of the second ODI.

Team

Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Yousaf, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Danish Kaneria, Muhammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Abdul Rahman.

Opinion

Editorial

Token austerity
Updated 11 Mar, 2026

Token austerity

The ‘austerity’ measures are a ritualistic response to public anger rather than a sincere attempt to reform state spending.
Lebanon on fire
11 Mar, 2026

Lebanon on fire

WHILE the entire Gulf region has become an active warzone, repercussions of this conflict have spread to the...
Canine crisis
11 Mar, 2026

Canine crisis

KARACHI’S stray dog crisis requires urgent attention. Feral canines can cause serious and lasting physical and...
Iran’s new leader
Updated 10 Mar, 2026

Iran’s new leader

The position is the most powerful in Iran, bringing together clerical authority and political and ideological leadership.
National priorities
10 Mar, 2026

National priorities

EVEN as the country faces heightened risks of attacks from actual terrorists, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi...
Silenced march
10 Mar, 2026

Silenced march

ON the eve of International Women’s Day, Islamabad Police detained dozens of Aurat March activists who had ...