LAHORE, Dec 3: Wasim Akram will not figure in the two Tests series against South Africa less than two weeks after confirming his willingness to play, announced Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) here Tuesday.

An official of the PCB confirmed on Tuesday that team manager Brig (retd) Khawaja Mohammad Nasir has informed the establishment from South Africa about Wasim’s decision.

“The manager has conveyed to us that Wasim doesnt want to play in the two Tests against South Africa. But we will not take any decision until we directly talk to Wasim because it was on his consent and availability that the selectors picked him”, he said.

“The selectors have named 16 players for the Test matches and 17 players for the five-match one-day series. The final decision on Wasim and the replacement, if required, is expected sometime this week”,he maintained.

Wasim had expressed his consent and willingness to play in the two Tests against South Africa in newspaper interviews. However, his inclusion was criticized by a section of media who questioned if the former captain had been rewarded for skipping the three-Test series against Australia and instead preferring festival matches in England.

The first Test begins at Durban from Dec 26 while the first one-day international will also be played at Durban on Dec 8.—APP