PCB recalls Younus to Test and T20 squads, overlooks Malik, Akmal, Yousuf

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee, headed by former Test opener Mohsin Hasan Khan, has omitted wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, all-rounder Shoaib Malik and batsman Mohammad Yousuf from the Test and Twenty20 squads named for the New Zealand tour starting with a warm-up game against Auckland on December 23.

However, former captain Younus Khan has been recalled for both formats, the Daily Times reported.

Although Younus had retired from Twenty20 cricket after leading Pakistan to the World Cup title in England last year, last month he had said that he was available to represent Pakistan in all formats of the game.

Misbahul Haq has been retained as captain for the Tests while Shahid Afridi will lead the side in the Twenty20s. Left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who was sidelined from international cricket for over a year, has also been included in both squads.

There was no official statement from the PCB why Kamran and Malik were not selected.

“We discussed a vast pool of players but these two were not given clearance by the board,” said chief selector Mohsin, adding, “Yousuf was dropped on fitness ground.”

For spinning duties, the selectors have chosen Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, who also showed their batting abilities against South Africa.

“The one-day squad will be announced later on as first the team plays three T20 matches and two Tests, and the ODI series starts from January 22,” Mohsin said.

It is noteworthy that the PCB has included Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz in the Twenty20 as well as the Test squad.

A secretly filmed video recently aired by Geo News comprised Mazhar Majeed, the alleged bookmaker at the centre of the spot-fixing allegations plaguing the national team, boasting of connections with four cricketers- Kamran, Umar, Riaz and Imran Farhat. (ANI)