Injury-hit players included among Pakistan probables

Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Asif have been included in Pakistan's 30-man provisional squad for the Champions Trophy in India in October. All three fast bowlers are currently recovering from injuries and haven't played any part in Pakistan's ongoing tour of England.

"The 30 probables have been submitted by the selection committee in consultation with the national selection committee", Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) director of cricket, told PTI. "The squad would be trimmed to 15 by the end of this month. The deadline for submission of the squad is September 7 and hopefully we would be able to comply with the (ICC) advice well in advance."

The squad also includes Mohammad Hafeez, the opening batsman, who had an impressive A tour of Australia for the Top End Series, as well as Asim Kamal, Bazid Khan and Yasir Hameed. The uncapped players in the squad are Shahid Yousuf, Tahir Khan, Abdul Rehman, Mansoor Amjad, Akhtar Ayub and Samiullah Khan Niazi. Shoaib Malik, the allrounder, who pulled out of the tour of England due to an elbow injury, has also been included.

Pakistan probables Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Bazid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain, Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Yousuf, Tahir Khan, Abdul Rehman, Mansoor Amjad, Mohammad Irshad, Akhtar Ayub, Samiullah Niazi.