LAHORE: Pakistan selectors Tuesday included spot-fixing suspect Kamran Akmal in a preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup but left out former captain Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
The selection committee twice deferred the announcement of the squad as they sought clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on players who were reportedly under suspicion of match-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England last year.
PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said the observation of his board's Integrity Committee were brought into consideration before naming the squad.
“The Integrity Committee has given its views on some players to the selectors, who have taken into consideration that input and has selected the best 30 players for the World Cup,” Butt said in a statement released by the board.
Teams now have until January 19 to announce a 15-man squad.
“We are satisfied that we have selected the best squad from amongst the available players,” said chief selector Mohsin Khan.
“I request the whole nation to back the selected players who need all the encouragement to win the World Cup,” said Khan, a former Pakistan opener.
Shahid Afridi is expected to retain the one-day captaincy for the 10th World Cup which will be hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2, with 14 teams competing.
A Pakistan squad for six one-dayers against New Zealand will be announced next week.
Pakistan currently gearing up for a two-test series against New Zealand which begin on January 7 at Hamilton have already lost the three-match Twenty20 series 2-1 last week. The Tests will be followed by the six ODIs.
World Cup 2011 preliminary squad: Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Naved Yasin, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Tanveer Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Asad Ali.
