Junaid Zia puts exams ahead of one-day series

Junaid Zia has pulled out of the Pakistan one-day squad to play New Zealand, citing the need to attend exams as the reason.

Zia, the son of the board's chairman, was a controversial selection in the first place, having taken only three wickets at an average of 42.33 in his four previous ODIs.

However, he requested to be left out of the squad and his place was awarded to Umar Gul, who had been initially selected in the Pakistan A team for the one-day series in India, also involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The first ODI is on November 29 at Lahore.