LAHORE: Shoaib Akhtar has been named in Pakistan's 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy. Another comeback man is wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who had lost his place to Sarfraz Ahmed during the recent Asia Cup.
Fast bowler Umar Gul was also included, though he is still suffering from a rib injury sustained during the Asia Cup and didn't bowl in the practice games in Multan last week. Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt also made the squad despite missing the trial games. Afridi was attending to a domestic problem while Butt had an appendicitis surgery. Shoaib had been named in the preliminary list of probables after the Lahore High Court temporarily suspended an 18-month ban imposed on him by the PCB; his impressive performances in trial games, where he bowled with good speed and control, earned him a comeback to the side. Shoaib last played for Pakistan during their tour to India in 2007.
He had been slapped with a five-year ban on grounds of indiscipline earlier this year, which was later reduced to 18 months on appeal. Shoaib then contested the ban in the Lahore High Court, which has suspended it till a final verdict is delivered. PCB officials had apparently given the go-ahead for Shoaib's selection despite the non-payment of a fine that was imposed by the board, with his lawyers assuring the board that it would be paid once the court delivers a judgment. Shoaib had been left out of an eight-day training camp in Karachi last month; a few reports suggested the non-payment of the fine resulted in his omission, though the board clarified that it was due to doubts over his fitness.
Pakistan are the hosts of the tournament, which begins on September 12. An ICC task force is currently in the country to assess the security situation.—RT