http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 and Shahid Afridi discuss the World Cup squad
The captain of the Pakistan cricket Twenty20 and ODI team http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt held a meeting today to discuss the names of the 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.
Pakistan is yet to name the World Cup probable squad and the board hasn’t decided the ODI squad for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 tour as well. Afridi was not happy over the delay of both the squads as he said that it was crucial for the captain and coach to know the
probable squad for the World Cup preparations.
The PCB had to announce the World Cup squad until December 19th but due to the unavailability of certain players, the board had to defer the decision. The board requested an extension for the deadline of the squad and the International Cricket
Council (ICC) granted the extension.
The team is expected to be announced tomorrow. Ijaz Butt wanted to discuss the 30-man squad with Afridi before the announcement and that is why Afridi flew to Pakistan after the Twenty20 series against New Zealand.
Three top players namely Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were suspended from the ICC following the spot-fixing allegations and the trio is unavailable for selection.
Apart from these three players, a few other key players are barred for selection, though they haven’t been charged for any misconduct. These players include wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 and Shoaib Malik.
The doubt over the selection of several key players had forced PCB to delay the decision on the final squad for the World Cup. There is also lack of understanding amongst the selectors and one of the selectors, Mohammad Illyas, submitted his resignation
to the PCB Chief which wasn’t accepted.
Afridi will rejoin the team after the Test match series comes to an end. The team lost the three-match Twenty20 series 2-1 to New Zealand.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had a troublesome 2010 and the team will be hoping to end the controversies and the bad form surrounding the players in 2011. Pakistan will be playing six ODIs against New Zealand before the start of the World Cup and if the players perform well,
it will be a confidence booster for the team.
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