Selectors may finalize team today

Lahore, Nov 12: The Pakistan selectors are expected to assemble here on Monday to finalize a 14-man squad for the first Test against England which starts from Wednesday.

Muridke's left-handed Qaisar Abbas is certain to be named in the squad but right-arm leg-spinner Danish Kaneria might have to wait a bit longer for his first Test cap. The other omissions are expected to be off-spinner Shoaib Malik and middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal.

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said he would like to have the team which the captain wants. "I will support my captain because he has to lead the side. I believe in giving all the available resources to the captain to get a positive result."

But Moin Khan said it was too early to say who would be named on Monday. "I will not comment until the 14 are named. There is a selection committee and still a lot of things have to be discussed."

Qaisar Abbas, who toured Sri Lanka earlier this year, has shown tremendous potential in the Rawalpindi four-dayer against England while scoring 71 and 44 besides picking up two wickets for 34 runs. He has shown patience, confidence and skill to play in tense situations.

"Qaisar certainly gives us the option of having an additional spinner. Besides, it is a great advantage of have a left-handed batsman in the middle of the innings," one of the selectors said on the condition of anonymity.

Kaneria has performed outstandingly this season by picking 34 wickets in five Quaid Trophy matches at an average of 16.29, including a career-best seven for 39 against Gujranwala last week.

Although Azhar Mahmood is unlikely to figure in the first Test, the selectors are adamant in retaining him because they don't want to disturb the combination of top 13 players.

The likely 14 are: Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Yousuf Youhana, Qaisar Abbas, Moin Khan (captain), Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad.