Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the announcement of 30 probable for the Cricket World Cup 2011 following differences over the selection of a few players. Sources in the PCB claimed that the announcement of the squad has been delayed following differences on dropping cricketers including Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria and Muhammad Yousaf.
Chief Selector Mohsin Khan had announced on Tuesday that the World's Cup 30-member preliminary squad would be finalised on Wednesday. However, the announcement was delayed unexpectedly. According to the sources, Selection Committee meeting on Wednesday failed to develop consensus on 30 probable for World Cup. The selectors are taking their time in deciding the squad for mega event.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan have to decide and send names of their 30-member preliminary squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by December 19, two months before the mega event-India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are co-hosting. Pakistan's One-day captain Shahid Afridi wants the selectors to be more decisive as the World Cup is now just two months away.
Despite completion of training camp for New Zealand tour, the squad for the ODI series against upcoming tour of New Zealand has not been announced so far. Pakistan will play three Twenty20 Internationals, two Test matches and six One-Day Internationals (ODIs) during the upcoming tour of New Zealand starting with a T20 game against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland on December 23.
Sources claimed that Mohammad Ilyas, a former Test player and member of Selection Committee headed by Mohsin Khan had shown opposition over the selection of Fawad Alam and Shahzaib Hasan in the ODI squad. Ilyas had earlier opposed Fawad's inclusion in the team for the three Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand and also opted to quit as selector, however, he was asked by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, to carry on.