Selection of team for Peshawar Test to be discussed today

Islamabad, March 2: Lieutenant-General Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ad hoc Committee, meets with the Advisory Panel and the chairman selection committee on Friday at Mangla to discuss the formation of Pakistan team for the second Test against Sri Lanka and various other issues, including the forthcoming foreign tours.

It was learnt that the fitness of Pakistan cricketers especially vice captain Moin Khan will be discussed in detail. The second Test starts March 5 at Shahi Bagh Stadium, Peshawar. Sri Lanka has already taken a lead after winning the opening Test at Rawalpindi.

Vice captain Moin Khan had a knee MRI on Friday. However, the results of the test are still awaited. It was learnt that Moin Khan will fly to Peshawar on Friday was also given a thorough check by the leading orthopaedic Dr G. A Shah in Lahore.

Yawar Saeed, the director of cricket operations, said on Thursday, the final reports on Moin alongwith the suggestions from the doctor will be known in the next 14 hours.

Wasim Bari, chairman selection committee, has already sent a list of 16 names to the board which includes Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Nazir. Apart from skipper Saeed Anwar others are Aamir Sohail, Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Wajahatullah Wasti, Abdur Razzaq, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Mohammad Akram, Shahid Afridi, Naveed Qureshi and Irfan Fazil.

Wasim Akram is presently on the injured list. Meanwhile, the PCB has accepted the resignation of foreign physio Dale Nylar and has asked him to suggest other options. It was the physio could not commit to a full season assignment with Pakistan team owing to commitment in personal business back in England. "We needed a full time physio with the team and since the arrangement did not work with Dale, he has quit," Yawar Saeed said while adding that PCB will look for other options. Presently, Dr Riaz Ahmed of PIA will continue his assignment with the team.