Afridi in Pakistan to discuss World Cup probables (Lead, Superseding earlier story)

KARACHI - Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will meet board chairman Ijaz Butt at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore Monday to finalise the probables for the 2011 World Cup and the 15-man squad for the ODI series in New Zealand.

Afridi arrived in Lahore Friday night from Christchurch after the end of the three-match TWenty20 series for the meeting.

A PCB official told IANS that Butt wants to discuss the probables with Afridi before giving the green signal to national selectors to announce the preliminary squad for World Cup 2011 as well as the squad for the seven-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Pakistan are to name their 30-man provisional squad for World Cup 2011 by Jan 5. The national selection committee headed by former Test opener Mohsin Khan is also supposed to decide the 15-man ODI squad for the series against the Black Caps within the next few days.

All participating teams of World Cup 2011 were asked to name their preliminary squads by Dec 19, two months before the quadrennial spectacle gets underway in the sub-continent. But Pakistan were unable to meet the deadline because their three key players are seeking a ‘clearance’ for national duty.

Following a PCB request, Pakistan were allowed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to name their squad by Jan 5.