The selection committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stuck to old guns as it announced the 16-member squad for the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. As per expectations, Mohammad Asif has been named vice-captain of the squad, while two uncapped faces added in he squad.
The cricket circles were expecting drastic changes in the team after their dismal performance in the world cup but it seems that newly appointed paid selection committee is not ready to take risks or show any innovation.
Addressing a press conference along with Captain Shoaib Malik at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday chief selector Salahudin Ahmad said, "We picked the best players available for selection and we hope that they will perform well against the world cup runners-up, Sri Lanka". He said the captain Shoaib Malik was taken into confidence before finalising the team and he also gave his input.
Answering a question, Shoaib said: "These are all deserving players and it is the best team available to us. I am satisfied with the selection and very much confident that these young players will prove themselves because they are the future of Pakistan cricket."
The young talented all rounder Fawad Alam who had such an outstanding domestic season, has also been included in the squad. And Najaf Shah, a left-arm fast medium bowler who plays for PIA and Rawalpindi, has also been called up after an impressive home season. He also performed well in the trial match held last week during the training camp for the series.
Opener Salman Butt has made a comeback in the squad, having been dropped earlier after a disappointing tour to England last year. Talat Ali, recently appointed manager of the team for two years, will also be the acting coach for the three-match series.
Pakistan are without Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar. Younis is currently turning out for Yorkshire, while Shoaib is not yet fully fit. Both players have already informed PCB for their unavailability for the series.
THE 16 PLAYERS ARE: Shoaib Malik (Capt), Mohammad Asif (Vice Captain), Salman Butt, Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal (wicket keeper), Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, and Najaf Shah.