Thaindian News

Karachi, Dec 15 (IANS) Pakistan Wednesday delayed naming its 30-man preliminary squad for the cricket World Cup 2011.Though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided against giving a definite reason for the delay, it is believed that the question of whether to include the trio of former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria forced it to delay finalising the squad.

The three are under the scanner for alleged links with match-fixers. The trio met with PCB officials in Lahore Wednesday and pleaded their innocence and requested the Board to include them in the World Cup squad.

A media release issued by the PCB said “further consideration of this matter is required”.

“A meeting of the Selection Committee was held today at PCB headquarters in which the squads for the ODI series in New Zealand and names of 30 probables for the upcoming ICC World Cup came under discussion,” said the PCB statement.

“Meeting of Integrity Committee was also held with Mr. Ijaz Butt in the Chair. Other members of the Integrity Committee, Mr. Subhan Ahmad (COO), Justice (Retired) Jamshed Ali, Mr. Mohsin Hasan Khan (Chief Selector), Mr. Zakir Khan (DCO International), Mr. Sultan Rana (DCO Domestic), Col. Wasim (Security Manager/Integrity Officer) and Mr. Taffazul Rizvi Advocate (Special Invitee) attended the meeting,” the statement said.

“All the issues relating to the clearance of players came under discussion. The committee decided that further consideration of this matter is required. The ODI squad for New Zealand and that for the World Cup will be announced at a later date,” it concluded.

Pakistan were supposed to name the 30-man list for the World Cup Wednesday. The deadline for submission of the preliminary squads is Dec 19.