Saqlain off to WI, Saeed to join team for Tests

Karachi, April 17: Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq left for the West Indies on Monday evening to join the team before the best-of-three finals starting in Barbados from Wednesday.

Saeed Anwar will, however, leave for Guyana on April 25 for the three-Test series starting from May 5, director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Yawar Saeed said from Lahore on Monday.

The PCB official added that the team management has been directed to release four players from the currently available 18. He said the players would return by April 21. "Whatever the exposure the youngsters wanted, they have got from the one-dayers. Test matches are a different ball game and we have to stick to the best available players," Yawar said.

The four players, who are likely to return, are: Atiq-uz-Zaman (wicket-keeper), Shoaib Malik (off-spinner), Irfan Fazil (fast bowler) and Naveed Qureshi (opener).

The PCB official said Saqlain Mushtaq has flown after he was given a clean bill of health by the specialists. He said chairman of the selectors Wasim Bari also tested his fitness in the nets here on Monday morning before giving him the clearance. "He showed the doctors certificate besides displayed top fitness during the training session to convince the chairman of selectors," Yawar said.

Saqlain's brother, Zulqarnain, told Dawn from Lahore that the champion off-spinner underwent several tests for blood clots in England. "Because of non-stop cricket, he was having clots in his body. But he has been treated well and is now in perfect health," he said.

Saqlain missed the two Tests against Sri Lanka after breaking down in the opener at Rawalpindi. He also missed the Sharjah tournament and the preliminary round matches in the West Indies. "He will join the team on Tuesday and I am sure will be ready for the first final. Nine hours time difference will also help Saqlain to be prepared for the game in Barbados," Yawar Saeed said.

The PCB director, however, said Saqlain would fly to England after the conclusion of the West Indies because of his county commitments with Surrey. He said the Surrey Cricket County Club had approached the cricket board for his release "and we decided in principle as we have also given permission to Shoaib Akhtar to play there after the West Indies tour."

Saqlain and Shoaib would miss the Asia Cup in Dhaka and the Test and triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka.

The PCB official said Saqlain would, however, be available from September onwards. Pakistan are scheduled to play India in five-match one-day series in Toronto and then host South Africa and England between late September and December. "If Surrey qualify for the county championship final, Saqlain may be permitted to skip the Toronto series," Yawar added.

Saeed to fly on 25th: Yawar Saeed said Saeed Anwar would definitely fly out for the Caribbean by April 25. He said Saeed would reach Guyana for the four-dayer prior to the first Test starting in Guyana from May 5.

Saeed Anwar, the charismatic opener, said from Lahore that he was still recovering after undergoing orthoscophy on his right knee. "There is post-surgical pain," he admitted, adding: "I have been advised rest for four weeks and I presume I would be fit by April 23." He, however, stressed that he would stage a comeback only if convinced that the injury has healed completely. "It (knee) was really bad and I don't want to risk my career by premature return. "The injury was so bad that I was unable to put pressure on my right knee. That resulted in I becoming a back-foot player. I am basically a front-foot player and lost my wickets because I couldn't adjust to playing on the back-foot," he said.

Saeed said he has been prescribed swimming, light jogging and weight-training to strengthen his knee.

Shabbir to leave on April 22: Controversial fast bowler Shabbir Ahmad will leave for the West Indies on April 22 to seek help from Michael Holding and Jeff Thomson to rectify his bowling action.

Yawar Saeed said Shabbir will not be part of the Pakistan team and would follow the travel plan of the two former great fast bowlers. Holding and Thomson would spend time with Shabbir so that he gets his bowling action right. We discussed the issue with the two fast bowlers and Shabbir is leaving after we secured clearance from them.

Holding has been approached because he is also a member of the ICC panel on illegal deliveries. Besides, we wanted Holding to come here to tutor some budding youngsters. But because of his commitments, that arrangement couldn't materialize, the PCB official said.