KARACHI: National selectors will sit down on October 22 to finalise Pakistan’s squad for next month’s limited-overs series against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates.
But two important issues related to the UAE-bound squad is out of the hands of the selectors, who are hoping to raise a strong team for the matches in UAE.
The selectors are unaware whether Younis Khan will be there to lead Pakistan in the three One-day Internationals in Abu Dhabi. And secondly, they are yet to know whether comeback fast bowler Mohammad Asif will be cleared by the UAE authorities to play in the November 3-13 series.
“We will have a meeting of the selection committee on October 22 after which we will name the team for the series against New Zealand,” Iqbal Qasim, the chief selector, told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
Iqbal, a former Pakistan Test leg-spinner, said that he had no clue whether Younis Khan will be available for the series, saying that he would wait for an announcement by Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, regarding the issue.
Younis resigned as captain earlier this week following match-fixing accusation by Jamshed Dasti, chairman of the National Assembly’s standing committee on sports. Butt has refused to accept the decision and is expected to make a ruling on the captaincy issue on Monday (tomorrow).
Another controversial issue is the selection of Asif for the series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The lanky pacer returned to the national team after serving a one-year ban for doping.
However, it remains to be seen whether he would be included in the UAE-bound squad as he was deported from Dubai last June after being detained their over possession of a banned drug.
When asked about the Asif issue, Iqbal said that he is yet to receive any instructions from the PCB. “We are expecting a word from the PCB regarding Asif before our meeting next week and will take a decision about him accordingly,” he said.
Iqbal said that in normal circumstances, Asif would have been an automatic choice for a place in the Pakistan team.
“Asif a match-winning bowler,” he said. “He is bowling well in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and is an automatic choice for the Pakistan team,” he added.
Asif was in his element the other day at the Gaddafi Stadium, taking 5 for 35 to help National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) bowl out Water and Power Development Authority for a paltry 133.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, a decision on whether Asif can play in UAE will be made next week.
When contacted, Wasim Bari, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told this correspondent that the Board is still awaiting a reply from the authorities on its request for clearance for Asif to play in the series that includes three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games.
The PCB had sought International Cricket Council (ICC) assistance to get Asif’s cleared for the series against New Zealand.
The Sheikhupura-born player was barred from entering the UAE after he was detained in Dubai for 19 days last June for the possession of opium when he was returning home after featuring in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was later released without being charged but he was deported from Dubai, which means he cannot travel to the desert state.
Asif was handed a one-million-rupee fine by the PCB for his Dubai misadventure after the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal banned him for 12-months for failing a dope test. His one-year ban ended last month after which Asif was allowed to feature in the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.
But two important issues related to the UAE-bound squad is out of the hands of the selectors, who are hoping to raise a strong team for the matches in UAE.
The selectors are unaware whether Younis Khan will be there to lead Pakistan in the three One-day Internationals in Abu Dhabi. And secondly, they are yet to know whether comeback fast bowler Mohammad Asif will be cleared by the UAE authorities to play in the November 3-13 series.
“We will have a meeting of the selection committee on October 22 after which we will name the team for the series against New Zealand,” Iqbal Qasim, the chief selector, told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
Iqbal, a former Pakistan Test leg-spinner, said that he had no clue whether Younis Khan will be available for the series, saying that he would wait for an announcement by Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, regarding the issue.
Younis resigned as captain earlier this week following match-fixing accusation by Jamshed Dasti, chairman of the National Assembly’s standing committee on sports. Butt has refused to accept the decision and is expected to make a ruling on the captaincy issue on Monday (tomorrow).
Another controversial issue is the selection of Asif for the series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The lanky pacer returned to the national team after serving a one-year ban for doping.
However, it remains to be seen whether he would be included in the UAE-bound squad as he was deported from Dubai last June after being detained their over possession of a banned drug.
When asked about the Asif issue, Iqbal said that he is yet to receive any instructions from the PCB. “We are expecting a word from the PCB regarding Asif before our meeting next week and will take a decision about him accordingly,” he said.
Iqbal said that in normal circumstances, Asif would have been an automatic choice for a place in the Pakistan team.
“Asif a match-winning bowler,” he said. “He is bowling well in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and is an automatic choice for the Pakistan team,” he added.
Asif was in his element the other day at the Gaddafi Stadium, taking 5 for 35 to help National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) bowl out Water and Power Development Authority for a paltry 133.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, a decision on whether Asif can play in UAE will be made next week.
When contacted, Wasim Bari, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told this correspondent that the Board is still awaiting a reply from the authorities on its request for clearance for Asif to play in the series that includes three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games.
The PCB had sought International Cricket Council (ICC) assistance to get Asif’s cleared for the series against New Zealand.
The Sheikhupura-born player was barred from entering the UAE after he was detained in Dubai for 19 days last June for the possession of opium when he was returning home after featuring in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was later released without being charged but he was deported from Dubai, which means he cannot travel to the desert state.
Asif was handed a one-million-rupee fine by the PCB for his Dubai misadventure after the IPL drugs inquiry tribunal banned him for 12-months for failing a dope test. His one-year ban ended last month after which Asif was allowed to feature in the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.
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