5 uncapped players named in 18-man Pakistan Test squad

Karachi, Feb 23: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) advisory council on Wednesday continued their policy of giving the youngsters a taste of the highest form of the game by picking five uncapped players in an 18-man squad for the three-Test home series against Sri Lanka.

The first Test begins at Rawalpindi from Saturday Test starts at Peshawar from March 5. The third and e played here in Karachi between March 12 and 16.

Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Abbas, Bazid Khan and Irfan Fazil were all named on Wednesday in a formidable lineup that also includes recalled Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Wajahatullah Wasti, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Akram.

Younis, Faisal and Imran had also played in the three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka which the tourists won 3-0. Paceman Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood were not considered because of injuries. Shoaib has a groin injury and has been advised two-week rest while Azhar is suffering from a back strain and has been advised a six-week rest.

While the five seniors were reinstated in the team after being ignored for the one-day series, Ijaz Ahmad was overlooked for the longer version of the game following a poor performance in the 1999 calendar year.

However, Aamir Sohail has been given another opportunity to prove if he still has more to offer. Aamir was tied with Ijaz for the troublesome No 3 batting slot. The former captain always had his nose in front of Ijaz after scoring more than 800 runs in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy recently. He had also struck four centuries which gives evidence of his patience, temperament and ability to convert good starts into big scores.

The selection of Shahid Afridi may raise some eyebrows but fact of the matter is that the all-rounder picked five wickets on his Test debut against Australia and then followed up with a match-winning 141 against India at Chennai a year ago. He has played just five Tests and this performance is by no means unimpressive.

Younis Khan was always going to be an automatic selection after his superlative performance in the recent Quaid Trophy where he scored over 1,100 runs. He is all set to make his Test debut at Rawalpindi.

However, Faisal Iqbal, Bazid Khan and Irfan Fazil are all teenagers. Faisal and Irfan played in the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka last month while Bazid, who was also selected for the tour of pearl island, preferred to play for Pakistan Reserves in the Quaid Trophy.

Imran Abbas retains his place in the Test side after his unsatisfactory performance in one-dayers because of his 964 runs in Quaid Trophy for Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP).

Irfan Fazil earned the cricket officials' nod after taking five for 120 against Sri Lanka in the three-dayer at Rawalpindi. Also benefiting from the three-dayer was opener Naveed Qureshi who stroked a fine 62. Naveed played in a Test against Zimbabwe in December 1998.

According to officials, Faisal, Bazid, Irfan, Imran Abbas and Naveed Qureshi have been picked so that they stay with the Pakistan team and learn more from the senior players.

"They have the potential and skills but are still not ready for five-day games. However, it was felt that instead of leaving them, they should be picked so that they move with the team, adjust to the dressing room atmosphere besides train with the squad," they said.

The squad is a composition of three openers (Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Naveed Qureshi), seven middle-order batsmen (Aamir Sohail, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Abbas, Bazid Khan), four fast bowlers (Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Akram, Irfan Fazil), two all-rounders (Abdur Razzaq, Shahid Afridi), a spinner (Saqlain Mushtaq) and a wicket-keeper (Moin Khan).

Sources in the cricket board said the 18 players will be at the disposal of the team management and the only inclusion expected for the second or third Tests will be of that of Shoaib Akhtar but that, of course, is subject to his fitness.

"This is the nucleus of players who are likely to be considered for future assignments. As regards Shoaib, he will have to undergo a fitness test for the second Test and if he clears, he will be included. If he fails, he will have to pass a fitness test for the last Test," they said.