BRIDGETOWN, March 9: Pen pix of Pakistan's World Cup squad:

Inzamam-ul-Haq (RHB/captain). Age: 37. ODI appearances: 375. Debut: v West Indies, Lahore, Nov 22, 1991. Don't get fooled by his laid-back approach on the field or the number of times he has got run out or run others out. The big man is a sublime batsman capable of destroying any attack. Hopes to make his last World Cup tournament a winning one.

Career: 11665 runs (ave 39.67), HS 137*, 10 100s, 83 50s, 109 catches, 3 wkts (ave 21.33), BB 1-0.

Younis Khan (RHB). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 148. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Karachi, Feb 13, 2000. A fearless batsman who drives with flourish on both sides of the wicket. The most improved batsman in the Pakistan team and an agile fielder close to the wicket.

Career: 3951 runs (ave 31.60), HS 144, 2 100s, 26 50s, 77 catches, 1 wkt (ave 101.00), BB 1-24.

Danish Kaneria (RHB/LB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 16. Debut: v ZIM, Sharjah, Oct 31, 2001. He was surprised when picked for the World Cup after being ignored for the one-dayers in South Africa. Now gets a chance to show that leg-spinners also have a role to play in the slam-bang world of limited-overs cricket.

Career: 6 runs (ave 3.00), HS 3*, 2 catches, 12 wkts (ave 49.16), BB 3-31.

Rao Iftikhar (RHB/RM). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 26. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Multan, Sept 30, 2004. He is another addition to Pakistan's seemingly endless production of new ball bowlers. Possesses a wily outswinger and produces good yorkers with the old reverse-swinging ball.

Career: 89 runs (ave 44.50), HS 19*, 8 catches, 19 wkts (ave 48.68), BB 2-13.

Imran Nazir (RHB). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 65. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Visakhapatnam, March 27, 1999. The prodigious opener who loves to go after the new ball. Has not justified the early promise but remains a dangerous batsman at the top of the order and is one of the good fielders in the side.

Career: 1484 runs (ave 23.55), HS 105*, 1 100, 9 50s, 19 catches, 1 wkt (ave 48.00), BB 1-3.

Kamran Akmal (RHB/WK). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 62. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Nov 23, 2002. Many consider him lucky to make the World Cup after a modest tour of South Africa but he is a gutsy wicket-keeper and a useful batsman anywhere in the order. Pakistan will be hoping he regains his form behind the stumps.

Career: 1120 runs (24.88), HS 124, 3 100s, 1 50, 63 dismissals (54 catches and 9 stumpings).

Mohammad Hafeez (RHB/OB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 44. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Sharjah, April 3, 2003. An opening batsman and handy off-spinner, he has not got as many chances as he deserved. But he performed well enough in South Africa to confirm his World Cup berth.

Career: 819 runs (19.04), HS 92, 4 50, 17 catches, 33 wkts (ave 34.09), BB 3-17.

Mohammad Yousuf (RHB). Age: 32. ODI appearances: 233. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare, March 28, 1998. Formerly Yousuf Youhana before he converted to Islam from Christianity in 2005, he is a prolific run-getter who has delivered more often than not. Hopes to continue a dream year with the bat that could propel Pakistan's hopes at the World Cup.

Career: 7853 runs (ave 41.77), HS 141*, 12 100s, 52 50s, 50 catches.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (RHB/RFM). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 61. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, April 4, 2003. The typical bits-and-pieces cricketer so vital for a team's chances at the World Cup. He bowls the reverse-swinging yorker almost at will and can contribute useful runs low in the order.

Career: 348 runs (ave 13.38), HS 29, 12 catches, 95 wkts (ave 27.16), BB 6-27, 4w 6.

Shahid Afridi (RHB/LB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 237. Debut: v Kenya, Nairobi, Oct 2, 1996. One of the most destructive batsmen in the game, he can win – or lose – a match on his own. Will not change his aggressive style at the crease despite being told by coaches and captains to first settle in before going after the bowling. He is also a wicket-taking leg-spinner.

Career: 4982 runs (ave 23.17), HS 109, 4 100s, 27 50s, 83 catches, 198 wkts (ave 35.82), BB 5-11, 4w 4.

Shoaib Malik (RHB/OB). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 134. Debut: v West Indies, Sharjah, Oct 14, 1999. He is the yo-yo of the team, shifted up and down the order, but has still done enough to cement his place in the side. Also a valuable off-spinner who can keep runs in check in the middle overs. A man to watch at the World Cup.

Career: 3432 runs (ave 33.64), HS 143, 5 100s, 20 50s, 47 catches, 103 wkts (ave 34.47), BB 4-19, 4w 1.

Umar Gul (RHB/RFM). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 25. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Sharjah, Aril 3, 2003. Injuries have taken a toll on this excellent new ball bowler, but his superb control of line and length made it impossible for the selectors to ignore him. Gave up squash to take up cricket and now goes to the World Cup knowing it could make or break his short career.

Career: 34 runs (ave 11.33), HS 17*, 2 catches, 30 wkts (ave 29.43), BB 5-17 4w 1.

Mohammad Sami (RHB/RF). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 79. Debut: v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, April 8, 2001. Late call-up when Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ruled out through injury, Sami has plenty of experience to call upon. One of the few players to have claimed a Test and ODI hat-trick.

Career: 275 runs (ave 11.45), HS 46, 18 catches, 111 wkts (ave 29.16), BB 5-10, 4w 4.

Yasir Arafat (RHB/RM). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 7. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Karachi, Feb 13, 2000. Another late call-up in the wake of Shoaib's and Asif's withdrawals. He is a handy lower-order batsman capable of grabbing vital, quick runs and a dangerous customer with the ball with his skiddy medium pace.

Career: 48 runs (ave 12.00), HS 27, 1 catch, 4 wkts (ave 58.25), BB 1-28.

Azhar Mahmood (RHB/RM). Age: 32. ODI appearances: 142. Debut: v India, Toronto, Sept 16, 1996. The forgotten man of Pakistan cricket was originally overlooked for the squad but got his chance when Abdul Razzaq pulled out with an injury. Bags of experience as a gritty all-rounder who started his career with three Test centuries against South Africa.

Career: 1519 runs (ave 18.30), HS 67, 3 50s, 37 catches, 123 wkts (ave 38.92), BB 6-18, 4w 5.—AFP