Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket chief selector Inzamamul Haq on Wednesday announced 21 players who would attend a skills camp starting here from May 30 till June 5 to finalise the national squad against England. “The players have been announced in consultation with the other members of the selection committee,” Inzamam told reporters during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium here yesterday. He said the Pakistan Test team would be named after the conclusion of the seven-day skills camp. The selectors also named a 16-member Pakistan A team for the England tour. Pakistan Test opener Ahmad Shahzad and Test middle-order batsman Umar Akmal have been axed from the tour. The two have come under fire for their disciplinary issues.

Senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez has been included in the list but his final selection will be subject to his fitness clearance. “We want Hafeez in the touring Test squad as he is an experienced campaigner but his final selection is subject to fitness clearance.” Inzamam also made it clear that while leg spinner Yasir Shah was called up for the camp, but the medical panel had said he would be fit to play again in 10 days’ time. “The report about Yasir is encouraging and he should be fit from his knee problem in 10 days according to doctors,” he said. Hafeez and Yasir both missed the three-week long boot camp held in Kakul this month due to fitness issues while the skills camp will be held under the supervision of new head coach Mickey Arthur.

While laying out the plan for the camp, Inzamam said the selected players would return from the fitness camp on May 27. “They will be given a two-day rest and the skills camp will start from May 30 and continue till June 5,” he added. The 46-year-old further said if any member of the A team would perform then he would be given a chance in the main team. “We all know that Pakistan’s tour of England will be tough. We may not win matches in England, but I am hopeful that our youngsters’ cricket will improve.” With no Shahzad, the selectors have recalled Test opener Khurrum Manzoor for the opening slot along with Hafeez, Sami Aslam and Shaan Masood. The selectors have also included left-arm pacer Mohammad Aamir in the shortlist even though he is yet to be issued a visa by UK authorities.

Inzamam also rued the lack of all-rounders in the team. “We missed Saeed Ajmal after he was banned and we haven’t still been able to find his replacement. Likewise, we are finding it difficult to find all-rounders.” Inzamam said that fitness camp in Abbottabad was helping Pakistan players raise their standards of fitness. “I saw the camp, it was very good. In the start, the boys found things a little difficult but then they started enjoying it. I think if we set up a camp for a longer period next time, it will definitely help players improve their fitness.”

Inzamam said that the players of the senior team for the skills camp and the Pakistan A team were selected purely on merit. “The players named for both – skills camp and Pakistan A team – are the unanimous choice of the selectors and performance was the only criteria to consider them. And the selectors did a job done on justice,” he maintained. Regarding overlooking Shahzad and Umar from the skills camp, the chief selector was of the view that both the batsmen needed to bring improvement in their play, performance and attitude. “We are observing them (Shahzad and Umar) very closely and certainly they can make a come back in the team provided they show visible improvement in their performance and attitude. And they are capable of doing so,” he added. Pakistan will tour England in July to play four-Test, five-ODIs and one-off T20 series. The first Test will be played on July 14.

Probables for Test squad: Muhammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Sami Aslam, Khurram Manzoor, Sarfraz Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Asif Zakir, Azhar Ali, Younus Khan, Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Aamir, Rahat Ali, Imran khan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Akbarur Rahman, Yasir Shah (subject to fitness), Zulfiqar Babar and Wahab Riaz.

Pakistan A squad: Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Jahid Ali, Saud Shakil, Baber Azam, Umar Siddique, Abdul Rehman Muzamil, Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Jahid Ali, Saud Shakil, Baber Azam, Umar Siddique, Abdul Rehman Muzamil, Hassan Ali, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Abbas, Aziz Ullah, Bilawal Bhatti, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Asghar,
Shahdab Khan and Muhammad Hassan.