Inzamam may lead an inexperienced squad

Inzamam-ul-Haq will be named as Pakistan captain for the tri-nation one-day tournament in Sharjah on Tuesday but is likely to be handed over an inexperienced squad.

Inzamam has been tipped ever since the Pakistan team left for New Zealand in February. But his appointment was stamped when Moin Khan missed the third Test and was consequently ruled out for six weeks because of knee injury.

However, Inzamam, whose debut as Pakistan captain ended in disaster at Hamilton, may be expected to perform without senior players who are unlikely to be named on Tuesday.

Sources said besides Moin, Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Sami will not be considered for selection as they are nursing injuries of various natures.

The PCB are expected to justify the exclusion of the senior players on the pretext that they are giving them time to rest so that they are fit when the team leaves for England early next month.

Pakistan are scheduled to play two Tests besides appearing in the triangular one-day competition that also involves Australia and the hosts, England.

"New Zealand are also sending their second string. So there is no point of burning out our star players who are expected to play key roles in England," sources, on the condition of anonymity, said.

New Zealand accepted an invitation to play in the Sharjah Cup in place of India, which the PCB feel, has taken the gloss out of the competition.

"Sharjah tournaments are traditionally known for India and Pakistan matches," director of the PCB Brig Munawwar Rana admitted.

Amongst the senior players, only Waqar Younis will be retained while the axe is set to fall on Ijaz Ahmad who failed in the three Test innings in New Zealand.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Salim Elahi, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Naumanullah, Humayun Farhat (wicketkeeper), Waqar Younis, Arshad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad, Fazle Akbar, Shoaib Malik and Yasir Arafat.