Stalwarts back for Pakistan

Veteran Wasim is offered a Test lifeline

Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood have been recalled to Pakistan's international fold, with selection for a training camp due to begin at the end of next week.

The selectors have invited 30 players to the camp, to be held in Lahore from 22 March.

The aim is to prepare squads for the Sharjah one-day tournament against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in early April and a home series against the Kiwis later that month.

The opening pair has been a problem for us

Chief selector
Wasim Bari

The three players were omitted from the team for last week's Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka, which Pakistan lost by eight wickets.

The selectors were criticised both before and after that match for omitting all-rounder Akram and off-spinner Saqlain.

Also invited to the training camp were five specialist openers as well as a number of uncapped players.

"Our main purpose is to...have a look at the available talent in the country particularly those who have been performing well at the domestic level," chief selector Wasim Bari said.

Opening problem

Pakistan has been struggling to find a reliable opening pair since Saeed Anwar suffered a wrist injury last November in Sharjah.

"The opening pair has been a problem for us, but we are giving everyone a chance as we need two or three reliable players," said Bari.

The shortlist includes openers Shahid Afridi, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Muhammad Ramazan and Taufiq Umar. Ramazan last played for Pakistan against South Africa in 1998.

Among the uncapped players are Karachi's Saeed Bin Nasir and fast bowler Abdul Rauf, who has impressed with his stamina and pace in his debut first-class season.

Also included is Yasir Hameed of Peshawar, who scored 171 in the final of the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam trophy recently in Karachi.

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Pakistan training squad: Shahid Afridi, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Muhammad Ramazan, Taufiq Umar, Inzamam-ul Haq, Younis Khan, Yousaf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Yasir Hameed, Bilal Asad, Saeed Bin Nasir, Usman Tariq, Wasim Akram, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat, Tahir Mughal, Waqar Younis, Muhammad Sami, Fazale Akbar, Abdul Rauf, Shoaib Akhtar, Rashid Latif, Kamran Akmal, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria.