Pakistan team for first Test on Wednesday

Karachi, Feb 20: The Pakistan cricket team for the first Test against Sri Lanka will be named on Wednesday, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia said on Sunday.

However, the general said Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar will not be considered for selection for the Rawalpindi match to be played between Feb 26 and March 1 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

"Azhar has been advised six-week rest while Shoaib is out of commission for two weeks. Naturally, the players who can replace them are Waqar Younis, Mohammad Akram, Shahid Nazir etc."

He said there was little possibility that Azhar Mahmood would be fit for the three-Test series that concludes on March 16 at Karachi. "In all probablity, he is out of the entire series."

Shoaib broke down after bowling five overs in Gujranwala because of a groin injury while Azhar's appearance in Lahore ended only after one over because of a back strain.

The PCB chief, when pressed on the likely team, said: "I think Wajahatullah Wasti will definitely play in the Tests."

Asked if he was hinting at the exclusion of Aamir Sohail, he diplomatically parried the question. He added from Lahore that the training camp will begin at Lahore from Monday "in which all the senior players who were rested for the one-dayers have been invited."

The general confirmed that Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Wasim have been asked to attend the camp while Wajahatullah Wasti and Mohammad Akram will be playing in the three-dayer at Rawalpindi from Monday.

The general said skipper Saeed Anwar and Intikhab Alam will be asked to attend the advisory council meeting to held at the Qadhafi Stadium. He added that their views will be given serious consideration "but the final decision will be made by the advisory panel."

The general said Inzamam will join the camp on Wednesday morning since he had left for Malaysia on a business trip. He said the board wanted Inzamam to play in the three-dayer but because of his commitments, that was not possible.

The general brushed aside claims that the board was taking a U-turn from their much-publicized rebuilding process of the team by recalling the senior players. "We are rebuilding the team for the 2003 World Cup. Test cricket is not on the agenda but we would definitely like to get a few youngsters who could perform well in Test matches also."

Lt-Gen Tauqir observed that the youngsters were being wrongly criticized for the 3-0 defeat in the one-day series. "We lost because the seniors didn't perform and because of poor planning. How can you field first after winning the toss? The decisions were mind-boggling," he said, adding: "The youngsters shouldn't be blamed for seniors' failures."

The general said skipper Saeed Anwar was also under pressure arguing that he was appointed captain at the eleventh hour. "He was made captain because we had no option left. Moin Khan let us down by declining the offer.

"Moin is still our first choice and next time he will not be offered the captaincy but will be told to captain the team. If he has to play in the team, it has to be on my terms and conditions," the general said.

The PCB chief indicated that there might be a change in the captaincy after the series against Sri Lanka for the tours of Sharjah and West Indies.

The general said he was disappointed with the one-day series result but was pleased that Pakistan cricket got a batsman like Younis Khan. "If we get three or four more players like Younis Khan, I think it will not be a bad deal. I have high hopes of Bazid Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Taufeeq Umer and Wajahatullah Wasti. Let's see if they come upto expectations," he said.