Cricket: Malik axed for England Test series

Wahab, Umar Akmal return to five-day squad for three-match series.

LAHORE: Left-arm fast-bowler Wahab Riaz and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal have been recalled to Pakistan’s Test squad for the series against England that starts from January 17 in Dubai.

There was, however, no room for former captain Shoaib Malik who has failed to impress since his return to the national squad against Zimbabwe as well as the series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh that followed.

Riaz, 26, last represented Pakistan on the tour of West Indies and was ‘rested’ for the tour of Zimbabwe.

His name came up in the spot-fixing hearing that resulted in prison sentences handed out to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and Riaz was subsequently omitted for the series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Akmal returns after good show

Akmal, though, was omitted from the Test squad following poor performance in the five-day format. His encouraging show in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Division II for SNGPL as well as brief cameos in the One-Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh forced the selectors to hand the youngster a recall.

Misbahul Haq will continue to lead the squad, having not lost a Test series since taking over from Butt following the ill-fated tour of England last year. Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan is also included subject to fitness.

Not the end for Malik: Ilyas

Talking to media after the announcement, interim chief selector Mohammad Ilyas said that a balanced squad was picked, refusing to share updates on Kamran Akmal.

“I won’t be commenting on players who have not been included in the squad,” said Ilyas.

“Malik has been dropped but he’s not out of the picture yet. The series against England is very important and that is why we’ve decided to show our confidence in Umar and Riaz.”

The ODI and Twenty20 squad, according to Ilyas, will be announced after the completion of the second Test that takes place from January 25.

Want to be in ODI, T20 squads too: Riaz

Riaz, meanwhile, expressed his joy over his recall, having had a successful domestic season.

“I can assure you that I will give it my best to prove myself,” Riaz toldThe Express Tribune.

“I was performing quite well when I was sidelined and I will continue to do so in the future. I will be joining the camp with the rest of the squad but have been training on my own and look forward to a return to the limited-overs squad as well.”

Sarfaraz to lead PCB XI

The selection committee has also announced a 12-man squad to take on England in a three-day tour match.

Wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmad will lead the side which includes Nasir Jamshed, Afaq Rahim, Haris Sohail, Ayub Dogar, Usman Salauddin, Raza Hassan, Mohammad Khalil, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Talha, Ali Irfan Shah and Yasir Shah.

Pakistan

Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Talha, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2011.