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KARACHI, Aug 17: Temperamental and controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was named Saturday in Pakistan squads for the Kenyan three-nation and ICC Champions Trophy tournaments.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, however, was not considered for the events in Nairobi and Colombo at his own request for family reasons.

Shoaib, who was instrumental in Pakistan's stunning 2-1 win over world champions Australia in June, chose to skip the ongoing Morocco Cup and instead committed himself to club cricket in England. However, given his unpredictable mannerism and the fact that he is the favourite player of Pakistan Cricket Board, it is hardly a surprise to find Shoaib Akhtar back in the side.

Shoaib, ironically, replaces Saqlain in the only change to the squad now playing in Tangiers. But batsman Misbah-ul-Haq has been omitted for the Champions Trophy in Colombo because the tournament rules require teams to have squads of 14 players each.

The Pakistan team flies straight from Tangiers to Nairobi where the tournament starts Aug 29 with Waqar Younis' men taking on Kenya. All matches in the double league tournament will be played at Gymkhana Club Ground.

Kenya not only stepped in to host the tournament on behalf of the PCB after Australia opted against playing in Pakistan for security reasons but also accepted the invitation after New Zealand pulled out of the event.

After the final on Sept 7, all three participating teams depart for Colombo for the Champions Trophy.

The 12-nation championship opens with Pakistan playing hosts Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium on Sept 12.

Pakistan then play Holland in their final Pool One tie at the SSC Ground nine days later (Sept 21).

Only the four pool winners qualify for the semifinals on Sept 25 and 27 respectively. The final is slated for Sept 29.

Squad for Nairobi: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Misbah-ul-Haq.

Squad for Champions Trophy: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami.

Tri-Nation schedule:

Aug 29: Pakistan v Kenya.

Aug 30: Pakistan v Australia.

Sept 1: Pakistan v Kenya.

Sept 2: Australia v Kenya.

Sept 4: Pakistan v Australia.

Sept 5: Australia v Kenya.

Sept 7: Final.

© Dawn