ICC extends squad deadline

PCB given until January 5 to name Cup squad instead of December 19.

KARACHI:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Pakistan until January 5 to name its preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup after a request by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Undecided over certain players’ availability for the World Cup, the PCB had sought an extension as the initial deadline for naming the 30-man squad of December 19 approached.

The selection committee met for consecutive days earlier this week to finalise the squad but due to question marks hanging over some players, the board asked for more time.

“We had requested the ICC to extend the deadline for selecting the initial squad for the World Cup,” the PCB spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar told The Express Tribune. “We haven’t finalised the squad due to certain reasons and had little time left.”

Although Sarwar refused to comment further, other PCB officials have confirmed that the board is waiting to get clearance for former captain Shoaib Malik and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

“The PCB has sought clearances from the ICC for the duo before which the team can’t be announced,” said a board official. “The board wants to field a strong team in the World Cup and wants clearance from the ICC on all players.”

Malik, Akmal and Danish Kaneria, despite impressive performance in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, were omitted from the New Zealand bound squad where Pakistan will play a Twenty20, One-Day International and Test series. The trio was also overlooked for the UAE ‘home’ series against South Africa which concluded last month due to alleged links with bookies.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2010.