Dawn Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper.

Selectors to finalise team on Thursday

By Our Sports Reporter

24 September 1997


KARACHI, Sept 23: The national selection committee meets on Thursday in Karachi to announce the 14-member team for the three-match one-day series against India.

According to informed sources, the meeting was expected on Wednesday but has been rescheduled for Thursday after it was confirmed that chief selector Salim Altaf is also arriving with the Pakistan cricket squad early Thursday morning.

An announcement about the selectors meeting will be made on Wednesday. However, what has not been confirmed is that if a meeting of the Executive Council was taking place. The Council's meeting is being considered crucial as it is the only competent authority to appoint or replace the captain.

In the wake of Independence Cup, Asia Cup and Sahara Cup defeats, former Test stalwarts are calling for a change in captaincy. Sources say the Executive Council had decided at its previous meeting that Ramiz Raja will be replaced by Saeed Anwar.

But with Anwar suffering from groin injury which sidelined him from the fifth match and Majid Khan hinting at a policy of continuity, it would not be a surprise if Raja retains his job for the series against India. Sources, nevertheless, said if there would be a change in the captaincy, the approval of the Council members would be sought on telephone.

Nonetheless, what is getting clearer is that Aamir Sohail will be included in the 14-man list and his replacement for the Hong Kong sixes tournament will be announced on Wednesday. He was delivered an air ticket to Hong Kong but was also told that they might have to stay back for the Indian series.

The decision will be taken by Wednesday as the six players leave for Hong Kong on Thursday and unless appropriate time is given for the replacement, things might get difficult for the team to complete the formality of having five bowlers and a wicketkeeper. It may be mentioned here that Wasim Akram, who is in the team, will be playing in Hong Kong as a specialist batsman.

Another well anticipated inclusion may be of Pakistan A skipper Mohammad Wasim who despite being a consistent scorer in the World Series Cup in Australia, lost his place to 16-year-old Hasan Raza. But Wasim's inclusion will chiefly depend on the fate of Ramiz Raja.

Pakistan's bowling is expected to be bolstered with the inclusion of Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmad who are likely to return from England after the conclusion of the county championship. There are, however, fitness fears about Mushtaq Ahmad and the PCB is making efforts to seek the approval of the leg-spinner.

Expected 14 are: Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar (captain), Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Hasan Raza, Mohammad Wasim, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Shahid Afridi, Azhar Mahmood, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis, Shahid Nazir and Saqlain Mushtaq.


Source: Dawn
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 19:06