KARACHI, Feb 2: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami paid the price of indifferent form this season when he was overlooked on Thursday for the first three matches of the One-day International series against India.

Sami was one of three changes in the Pakistan one-day squad which defeated England 3-2 last December while batsmen Faisal Iqbal, Imran Farhat and paceman Umar Gul were recalled for the ODI series which starts in Peshawar on Monday (Feb 6)

Faisal, who made a sterling return to international cricket after three years with a magnificent century in the second innings, and Umar replaced batsman Yasir Hameed and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the 16-man squad.

Wasim Bari, the chairman of selectors said Sami has a lot of potential and must not get disheartened. “It was a difficult decision for us to leave out Sami.

But we felt he needed a break at some point in order to recharge himself.

Sami figured in a solitary Test against India last month when he went wicketless at Lahore before falling ill on eve of the second Test at Faisalabad.

The 24-year-old claimed just three wickets in the first four ODIs against England before being replaced by new pace bowling sensation Mohammad Asif.

Bari emphasised that Faisal and Imran have been inducted because they were the in-form batsmen this season.

Faisal played the last of his 17 ODIs against South Africa at Rawalpindi in October 2003 while Imran’s previous ODI appearance was versus India in the September 2004 ICC Champions Trophy fixture at Edgbaston.

Shoaib Malik also made a return to the squad after missing the final Test win following the demise of his father during the Faisalabad Test.

Pakistan are chasing a fourth ODI series victory. They came from behind to upstage the Indians 4-2 in their own backyard nine months ago.

They also made history in the West Indies last May by completing a 3-0 clean-sweep.

Squad: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Navedul Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat, Arshad Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Farhat, Umar Gul.

Schedule

Feb 6: First One-day International (Peshawar).

Feb 11: Second One-day International (Rawalpindi).

Feb 13: Third One-day International (Lahore, D/N).

Feb 16: Fourth One-day International (Multan, D/N).

Feb 19: Fifth One-day International (Karachi).