Wasim pulls out of SL triangular

Karachi, June 30: Former captain Wasim Akram has withdrawn from the forthcoming tri-nation one-day series starting in Colombo from July 5, a spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said here on Friday.

"Wasim requested us to be excused from the tournament which the board has accepted. He will not be coming to Pakistan but will be proceeding to Manchester," PCB director Yawar Saeed said.

He added that Wasim has decided to concentrate more on longer version of the matches and play restricted one-day tournaments. He said the PCB had no objection.

"The board respects his decision. Besides, we want to assist him as much as we can in his chase for Courtney Walsh's record.

"At the moment, he has pulled out only from the Colombo series," Saeed said.

Pakistan is scheduled to play a tri-nation series in Singapore and Toronto in August and September respectively. South Africa and New Zealand will be the other teams in Singapore while India will figure in the fourth edition of the five-match series.

The board spokesman said the selectors would be deciding about the composition of the team for the one-day on Saturday.

He, however, hinted that with Wasim not available, the two teenagers Qaisar Abbas and Shoaib Malik would return.

Shahid Afridi has already been named to join the team for the competition also involving South Africa and Sri Lanka.