Waqar and Inzamam likely to face axe

The Pakistan team for the April 1-10 Sharjah Cup will be picked after the selectors watch the remaining matches of the ongoing NBP One-day Patron's Cup.

It was learnt through reliable sources that the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to watch the performances of all the seniors and juniors in the one-day competition before finalising a team for the Sharjah Cup, which also involves South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The PCB, after Pakistan's dismal performance in the World Cup, has been passing through a difficult situation of either to consider the seniors players for the Sharjah Cup or to build up a new look team, under long term planning for the next World Cup in 2007.

After the World Cup's debacle, no senior player had so far announced his retirement, which was expected and that has created a problem for the PCB how to sideline them forthwith.

However, some seniors players including Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq are unlikely to find a place in the Sharjah Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Pool 'A', 'C' and 'D' matches of the one-day cup will resume from next Sunday.

The tournament has been stopped due to rains in Punjab and NWFP but the matches of Pool 'B' had been completed at Karachi.

The decision of testing the seniors and juniors players in the one-day cup has been conveyed by PCB Chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, to the national selection committee headed by Wasim Bari and Waqar who met him at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

World Cup manager Shaharyar Khan and team's analyst Sikandar Bakhat also met the chairman to present their reports.

Under the present circumstances, the Pakistan team is expected to be announced by March 26 when the last two quarterfinals of one-day cup will be played.

Furthermore, the review committee, appointed by PCB chief after the debacle, would also have presented its report for which deadline is March 23.

Former captain Javed Miandad is tipped to replace Richard Pybus as Pakistan team coach. Pybus' contract was till the end of the ongoing World Cup.