KARACHI (Reuters)
Pakistan have recalled former captain Wasim Akram for the Test match against Bangladesh which starts on August 29. The decision represented an about-turn by the Pakistan selection committee after Wasim had earlier been omitted from a list of 27 probables named by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a training camp ahead of matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. "It's a well balanced team, the best possible side we could pick for the Bangladash match," selection committee chairman, Wasim Bari, told Reuters by telephone. After the Bangladesh Test opens Pakistan's home summer, they will host New Zealand for a three-Test and one-day series from September 16. Fast bowler Wasim, the only player in history to take more than 400 wickets in both Tests and one-dayers, took just five wickets at a cost of 49.40 in Pakistan's two-Test series in England earlier this year. The selectors also left out all-rounder Shahid Afridi and spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, as both the players are busy with commitments in English county cricket. "Afridi and Saqlain have told us that they will be available after September 2," Bari said. Pakistan's controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was also not considered for the Bangladesh Test as "he was out of practice", according to Bari. Shoaib, rated the fastest bowler during the 1999 World Cup, has been bidding to regain his place in the Pakistan team after suffering a host of injury and illness problems as well as controversy over his bowling action. Pakistan squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Wasim Akram, Taufiq Umer, Saeed Anwar, Faisal Iqbal, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Rashid Latif, Irfan Fazil, Naveed Latif, Mohammad Akram and Imran Nasir.

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