Wasim makes it five

Akram (rear) remains a highly competitive performer

Veteran all-rounder Wasim Akram will make his fifth appearance in the World Cup after being named in a Pakistan squad which is packed with experience.

Wasim has taken 485 wickets in 346 matches, both figures a record for one-day international cricket.

The 36-year-old made his World Cup debut in 1987 and was a member of the team which lifted the trophy five years later.

Of the 15 selected players, 11 have previously played in World Cups

Chief selector Wasim Bari

He captained the side in England three years ago when they reached the final again before losing to Australia.

The selectors have also recalled opening batsman Saeed Anwar, who was dropped following the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka two months ago.

And Rashid Latif has been preferred to Kamran Akmal as the team's wicket-keeper, despite the latter filling the role on the current tour to South Africa.

Latif recently announced his retirement from Test cricket and plans to concentrate his energies on his Cricket Academy in Karachi following the World Cup.

"In my mind, there is no doubt that this team is capable of excelling in the World Cup despite a recent poor run of form," chief selector Wasim Bari commented.

"Form is temporary and class is permanent and there is no doubt that this team has plenty of class, elegance and natural flair."

Former diplomat Shaharyar Khan has been appointed as team manager for the competition, replacing Brigadier Khawaja Nasir.

Pakistan face a tough opening match against holders Australia in Johannesburg on 11 February.

They will then take on Namibia, England and Holland before a crunch encounter with arch-rivals India at Centurion on 1 March.

Waqar Younis' side are then due to move on to Zimbabwe for their final first round group game.

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Pakistan's squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Shahid Afridi, Taufeeq Umar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Azhar Mahmood.