Wasim Akram has stepped down from the Pakistani captaincy to be replaced by Saeed Anwar for the home series against Sri Lanka.

The news came in a squad announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the first one-day international to be played in Karachi on 13 February.

"Wasim Akram has voluntarily decided to step down as Pakistan captain due to his family obligations and to concentrate more towards his increasing domestic commitments," PCB director of operations Yawar Saeed said in a statement.

Wasim is believed to want to concentrate on his own game and the chase for Kapil Dev's record of 434 Test wickets.

The 33-year-old all-rounder, who was appointed for his fourth tenure as captain early last year, is still to be part of the team.

The recent tour of Australia saw Wasim become the first bowler to take 400 wickets in one-day internations, but as a captain it was not a success.

His side lost all three Tests and six out of 10 one-day internationals during their Australian tour, and seven players from that squad have been dropped.

Middle-order batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, Wajahatullah Wasti, Shahid Afridi, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and pace bowler Waqar Younis have all been axed.

Former captain and frontline batsman Aamir Sohail is recalled, while five uncapped players are called up - Younis Khan, Imran Abbas, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Arfat and Zahid Saeed.

"The PCB, with an eye for the future, has attempted at providing a blend of youth and experience and the announced team depicts that constructive idea," Yawar Saeed said.

"The dropped players will be duly considered for future commitments as required," he added.

Another chance

Saeed was previously in charge of the team in 1996-97 against New Zealand and against South Africa in 1997-98 when Wasim was injured.

"It's a huge responsibility to lead the team, particularly after they performed poorly in Australia," the new skipper said.

"But we will be playing in home conditions which makes it a little easier."

Sri Lanka are playing three one-day internationals and three Tests on their tour of Pakistan.

Squad: Saeed Anwar (captain), Aamir Sohail, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Abbas, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Yasir Arafat, Abdur Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Zahid Saeed, Shahid Nazir, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik.