The national selection committee meeting, featuring all except one of its members, Saleem Jaffer, has announced a 15-member Pakistan `A' squad for the tour to Sri Lanka starting on August 20. Saleem, who has been associated with the present selection committee since 2007, is no more in good books of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt as the former raised objection over the way selectors were bypassed in announcement of the Test squad for the ongoing Australia series.
Since his tenure as member of the selection committee is to expire on July 31, Saleem is still a part of the committee but, surprisingly, was not invited for the meeting held in Lahore to announce the `A' team. Saleem told Paktribune.com that he was stunned after not being invited to the meeting.
Moreover, he disclosed that he has received a letter from the PCB mentioning that he was no more a selector after July 31, as the management had decided not to extend his contract. The `A' team will play a tri-nation limited-overs tournament in Sri Lanka involving South Africa `A' besides the hosts. Later, Pakistan `A' will play two four-day games against their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Team: Azeem Ghumman (captain), Khurram Manzoor, Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Aamir Sajjad, Shaharyar Ghani, Naved Yasin, Hammad Azam, Naeem Anjum (wicket-keeper), Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Talha, Mohammad Irfan, Tabish Khan, Junaid Khan.
Standbys: Rameez Alam, Umair Khan, Arun Lal, Mohammad Rameez, Raza Hassan, Adnan Akmal.