Younis was a surprise but expected omission from the 13-man party that was announced for the first Test against the West Indies starting in Peshawar from Monday. ``The Peshawar track is a placid and bald one. It would have been useless to play Waqar Younis there. He would have just toiled and struggled to get wickets,'' Altaf said from his Lahore residence.
Waqar Younis, 27, has captured 231 wickets in 46 Tests, including 35 wickets in six Tests against the West Indies at 19.14. His 35 wickets include two five-wicket hauls with his best match being at Karachi in 1990-91 when he claimed nine wickets for 120 runs. Younis was also left out from the Sheikhupura Test against South Africa last month to accommodate Wasim Akram who had declared himself fit and available after a nine-month lay-off because of shoulder injury.
``We plan to leave some grass on the Pindi Cricket Stadium wicket in an effort to prepare a fast and seaming track. Waqar (Younis) will definitely be in the team for that match,'' Altaf stated. ``I am sure that after a hectic season with Glamorgan followed by back-to-back matches here, Waqar deserved some break. So we gave to him. But that doesn't mean that he is out for ever. He will be back and pretty soon,'' Altaf added.
Asked if he had talked to Waqar before leaving him out, the Chief Selector, replied: ``I don't have to tell or ask anyone. It (selection committee) is an independent body. I even don't have to give explanations to anyone. I have been given a job to pick the best players and I am doing it sincerely.''
Speedster Waqar Younis, when contacted at his Lahore resident, admitted that he was disappointed and dejected. ``I had never anticipated that I would be left out. But what has hurt me more is the fact that none of the selectors contacted me. If I have been dropped on form, fine but I deserved a call from anyone of them,'' Younis, who got four wickets in the two Tests against South Africa at 31 each, remarked. ``We lost the Faisalabad Test because of our batsmen. But the axe has fallen on me,'' said a puzzled Younis. However, Younis emphasised that he would play in the domestic cricket to show the selectors his form and fitness. ``United Bank are not playing but I can play for Lahore or Karachi in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy,'' he said.
The chairman of selectors, commenting on the exclusion of Rashid Latif, said: ``Rashid will be given a Test. We may play him either at Rawalpindi or Karachi. For the South African safari, we willl select both Rashid and Moin ``I personally feel that either Moin or Rashid are too good to be left out. So we have to give proper chance to both of them,'' Altaf said. ``This team is just for the first Test. We have planned to go Test-by-Test,'' he added.
The selection of Arshad Khan as third spinner is an indication that Pakistan may go into the Test with three slow bowlers and leave out Shahid Nazir. However, independent sources revealed that Arshad Khan will make his Test debut at his home ground but not as third spinner. ``He will play instead of Saqlain Mushtaq,'' sources said. Saqlain Mushtaq has played in 12 Tests and has 47 wickets against his credit. In the series against South Africa, he accounted for nine batsmen. ``I don't want to commit myself but let us not forget that West Indies have Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul who are left-handers. Three spinners, including two off-spinners, can trouble the two stroke-makers.
``We have selected the 13 players. Now it depends on Wasim Akram whom he wants to play. Naturally, he will first see the conditions before finalising the playing lineup,'' added Salim Altaf. However, well informed sources said it has been decided that Pakistan will go into the Test with a five-five-one combination. ``That means that Saqlain Mushtaq and Ali Naqvi will carry the towels.''
Salim Altaf confirmed that while finalising the 13 players, Wasim Akram's consent was taken ``and, in fact, given due respect. ``Wasim requested us to give Ijaz Ahmad another chance which we accepted.'' On the ouster of Aqib Javed, Salim Altaf said the pacer was not completely out of the reckoning. ``He will be in the one-day sides.''