Shoaib named in Asia Cup probables list

Despite raising several questions about his fitness levels, the Pakistan selectors have included Shoaib Akhtar in a 26-man probables list for the Asia Cup. However, Shahid Afridi, Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq have been omitted.

The list includes three new faces - Riaz Afridi and Zahid Saeed, both seam bowlers, and Bazid Khan, a batsman. The 26 players will attend a training camp at Lahore from June 28, while the final squad for the tournament, which starts on July 16, will be named after the camp.

Shoaib's inclusion in the Asia Cup squad was in considerable doubt after the Pakistan board had raised questions about his fitness and his attitude. Rameez Raja, the chief executive of the PCB, had earlier said that Shoaib, currently playing for Durham in England's county season, would have to undergo a "stringent fitness test" before being considered for selection. Shoaib himself expressed his disappointment over the manner in which the entire issue had been handled, saying that he had "lost the urge" to play the Asia Cup, and that it would be a while before he donned the Pakistan colours again.

Pakistan have been placed in a relatively easy group, also featuring Bangladesh and Hong Kong, while the other group consists of India, Sri Lanka and UAE. Pakistan's performances in the competition will also be watched closely as it will be their first tournament under Bob Woolmer, their new coach.

The probables list
Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Younis Khan, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Salman Butt, Riaz Afridi, Zahid Saeed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Bazid Khan, Yasir Arafat.