Akhtar not selected for one-day series

Shoaib Akhtar has been left out of Pakistan's 16-man squad for the forthcoming one-day series against India, beginning in Kochi on April 2. The selectors decided to provide Akhtar, who pulled out of the Test series owing to a hamstring injury, with more time to reclaim his match fitness. Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Khalil, all part of the Test squad, were also omitted and would be replaced by Mohammad Hafeez, Rao Iftikhar and Shahid Nazir.

Akhtar resumed bowling earlier this week while Shabbir Ahmed, who was sidelined for the last few months, played a 50-over-a-side match in Karachi on March 24. The board reckoned that Shabbir would also require more time to regain full fitness.

Umar got starts in the two Tests at Mohali and Kolkata but didn't cash in and make a big score. Hameed and Khalil played in only one game but failed to impress.

Earlier Inzamam-ul-Haq reiterated that he had no problems with Shoaib's attitude and backed his "best bowler". The truth is, I personally have nothing against Shoaib," Inzamam told The News. "There is no doubt he is our best bowler and one capable of taking wickets and winning us matches. I don't care what he does off the field as long as he performs for the team. But the problem with him has been that he wants to play according to his own terms and conditions which is unacceptable to me.

"Yes there have been occasions when I have told the selectors and board, I don't want him in the team because his behaviour has a bad influence on the younger players. But I again repeat there is no doubt I would like to have him in my team as he is a matchwinner. Tell me which captain or coach would not like to play their main strike bowler. But he has to learn to play with discipline and according to the team requirements."

One-day Squad
Salman Butt, Younis Khan (vice-capt), Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Nazir, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Mohammed Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Arshad Khan.