Pakistan Cricket Board includes Kamran Akmal in ODI squad
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 later this month.
On the other hand, all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 has been retained as captain for the ODI series and he may be the first choice of the selectors to lead Pakistan’s team in the World Cup 2011.
The squad was finalised after a selection committee meeting authorized by Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Akmal, who is an experienced wicketkeeper as well as batsman, has got the chance to play for Pakistan after being sidelined for almost four months due to match-fixing suspicions.
Akmal has also been included in the 30-man World Cup squad and has replaced his younger brother Adnan, who is currently part of the 16-man Pakistan squad for the Test series against New Zealand.
However, the senior middle-order batsman, Mohammad Yousaf, has been left out and instead Misbah-ul-Haq has been chosen to play against the Black Caps in the series starting on January 22.
He is also leading Pakistan in their ongoing Test Series against New Zealand and is named as the ODI-vice captain.
Afridi was named as Pakistan’s limited-overs captain last year but speculations about his captaincy arose after two Twenty20 Internationals defeats against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
According to analysts, Pakistan’s current ODI squad would by in large remain unchanged for the ICC World Cup 2011, barring any serious injuries or drastic changes in form.
Yousaf has greater chances to be a part of the World Cup final squad after Afridi voted for his return during a meeting with PCB Chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 last week.
The young opener Ahmad Shahzad has also been lucky after the selectors have rewarded him with a place in the ODI team owing to his impressive performance in the Twenty20 games in New Zealand.
In addition, PCB has also announced the tour selection committee for the ODI series in New Zealand, which will include team manager, Intikhab Alam, Coach, Waqar Younis, Captain Shaid Afridi, and, Vice-captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972.
Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Tanvir Ahmed, Ahmed Shahzad.
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