Selection committee meets today

Karachi, Dec 8: Speedster Shoaib Akhtar seems certain to be in the 14-man Pakistan squad when the selectors finalize the team tomorrow (Thursday) for the tri-nation one-day international series in Australia starting from Jan 9.

Sources, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed on Wednesday that Shoaib Akhtar will be accompanying the team for the second leg of the Australian tour.

Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action was questioned by two Australian newspapers who went on to say that footage of the bowler's action has been sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC) technical committee on illegal deliveries for clearance.

"We have not received anything from the ICC. As far as we are concerned, Shoaib is available for selection and hopefully will be returning to Australia," PCB sources said.

"We are not to be dictated by Australian media reports because those (reports) are purely aimed to malign Pakistan cricket and its players. It was an attempt of foul-play and put psychological pressure on the youngster," the official said.

The official said Shoaib Akhtar had contacted the PCB officials and inquired about his future.

"Naturally, the board has put all its weight behind Shoaib. His action is crystal clear. Except for Australian umpires and media, no one has questioned the legality of his bowling action," the sources added.

Salahuddin Ahmad, chairman of the selectors, said he has received no instructions from the board to ignore Shoaib Akhtar.

"He is available for selection until advised otherwise," he said.

The selectors are leaving for Lahore on Thursday morning to watch 17 cricketers on nets. The selectors are expected to meet later in the day to finalize the 14-man squad. If a consensus is reached on the team, the squad would be submitted to the cricket board the same evening. It will then be upto the ad hoc committee when it releases the squad.

As things stand at present, the selectors and skipper Wasim Akram are adamant to take off-spinner Shoaib Malik to Australia. Shoaib has already been picked in the Under-19 Youth World Cup squad.

Along with Shoaib, Shahid Afridi is set to be recalled. Question mark, however, hangs over Mohammad Akram who took five wickets in the last Test at Perth. Wasim Akram, it gathered, seems to be unhappy with his fielding and if the skipper succeeds to convince the selectors, Wajahatullah Wasti might retain his place in the team.

The four exclusions on the cards are of Mohammad Akram, Ghulam Ali, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmad.

Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper) (vice-captain), Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzak, Wasim Akram (captain), Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik