Afridi to be only change for one-dayers

Karachi, June 28: Pinch-hitter Shahid Afridi will be the only change in the Pakistan team for the forthcoming tri-nation series starting at Colombo from July 5, sources said.

South Africa is the third team in the competition which opens with the match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Galle.

Afridi, controversially dropped from the first half of the tour which comprised three Tests, will join the team on July 3.

With each team entitled to 15 players, the selectors have decided to pull out off-spinner Shoaib Malik and rookie Qaisar Abbas who will join the Pakistan `A' team which will tour Kenya next month.

However, there was still uncertainty regarding the third player who will return. Pacemen Mohammad Akram and Shabbir Ahmad are tied. Nevertheless, Akram is fancied to retain his place.

Interestingly, the Pakistan squad will include Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad and Younis Khan who were overlooked for the Asia Cup in Dhaka earlier this month. The decision perplexes the policy of the selectors.