Mushtaq recalled for cricket camp

Karachi, Feb 27: Wrist spinner Mushtaq Ahmad is set to be recalled for the future assignments while Wasim Akram's groin injury has left his career in jeopardy.

The role of the two players on the tours of Sharjah, West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was discussed during a meeting between newly appointed chairman of selectors Wasim Bari and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia.

The general confirmed from Mangla that Mushtaq Ahmad has been called for a training camp on the recommendation of the newly appointed selection committee which is headed by Wasim Bari. The camp started at the KRL stadium under the supervision of former Test fast bowler Ehteshamuddin.

However, Ijaz Ahmad was overlooked for the camp in which players like Faisal Iqbal, Bazid Khan, Imran Abbas, Mohammad Akram, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Wasim, Shahid Nazir, Fazl-i-Akbar, Kabir Khan, Shafiq Ahmad and Shoaib Akhtar were summoned.

"Wasim Bari thought that a leg spinner would be required on the West Indies team. He also felt that Mushtaq Ahmad's experience would be needed in the backdrop of West Indians vulnerability against quality wrist spinner," the general said on telephone.

The probables were called for a brief camp after the selection committee recommended their names.

The PCB chairman also expressed his concerns over the fitness of Wasim Akram who broke down in the Rawalpindi Test after bowling just 13 deliveries.

The general hoped that Akram, needing 17 scalps to reach 400 wickets, would regain fitness for the back breaking four-month cricket ahead.

However, sources said the selectors were not happy with the fitness level of Wasim Akram. "He will have to submit a fitness certificate and assurance."

Wasim has already informed the board that he will not be available for the tour of Sri Lanka because of his commitments in England.

The general said the objective of the training camp along side the Test series was to keep the players ready and tuned for the forthcoming challenges.

"These are the players out of whom the team will be picked for future tours. Therefore, the board thought that it should organize a training camp and personally supervize their fitness and training schedules," Gen Tauqir said.