Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq not in probables list for NZ, Australia series

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board’s senior selection committee has axed controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq from a list of 25 probables for the forthcoming series against New Zealand and Australia.

Pakistan is to play three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a three-match Test series in New Zealand. They would then fly to Australia for another three-match Test series in December-January.

Pakistan would also play a five-match ODI series and a Twenty20 International Down Under.

Sources, however, said the final decision regarding the team selection would be taken after the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy starting from October 10, as the selectors want to judge the performance of the players and pick the final set of players for the tour after reviewing their performances in a domestic tournament.

“The visa for a couple of players could be collected on an urgent basis. Currently, though both Shoaib and Misbah are not the selectors’ first choice, no one could rule them out,” The Dawn quoted sources privy to the PCB, as saying.

Interestingly, middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf was also not included in the preliminary list of players, but following his rilliant performance against India in the Champions Trophy, his name was added to the probables list. (ANI)