Pakistan recall Asif for Champions Trophy
August 21st, 2009 - 6:07 pm ICT by IANSBy Omar Khalid
Karachi, Aug 21 (IANS) Pakistan Friday recalled dope-tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif for the Champions Trophy in South Africa, bringing him in place of under-performing all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim announced the 15-man squad for the elite eight-nation tournament for which seasoned all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been promoted as vice-captain in place of misfiring middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq.
“We have announced the best Pakistan team possible for what I believe is the toughest tournament in international cricket,” said Qasim, a former Pakistan Test spinner.
Pakistan have selected five fast bowlers for the tournament to be played from Sep 22 to Oct 5 and Qasim said the decision was made considering the playing conditions in South Africa.
“The wickets are usually bouncy in South Africa and the conditions offer both swing and seam movement for fast bowlers, which is why we have selected five pacers for the 15-man squad,” he said.
Asif, who last played for Pakistan in April last year, is back to spearhead the pace battery that includes Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and youngster Mohammad Aamer. The team includes only one specialist spinner - Saeed Ajmal.
Asif, who tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last summer, is currently serving a one-year ban for doping that ends Sept 22.
The selectors have decided against keeping two specialist openers which means that wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal will open the batting with big-hitter Imran Nazir.
The team will assemble at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Sep 1 for a 10-day camp to be held under floodlights because of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Pakistan squad: Younis Khan (captain), Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi (vice-captain), Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Saeed Ajmal.
- End of road looms for Misbah after axe from all three squads - Oct 23, 2009
- Pakistan announce World Cup squad without a captain - Jan 18, 2011
- Misbah dropped from New Zealand series - Oct 22, 2009
- Champions Trophy: West Indies opt to bat against Pakistan - Sep 23, 2009
- Pakistan drop Riaz over spot-fixing links - Nov 21, 2011
- Asif selected after close monitoring of selectors: Qasim - Aug 22, 2009
- Malik axed from Pakistan's Asia Cup side; Jamshed, Sarfraz recalled - Mar 03, 2012
- Akmal rejoicing return to Pakistan team - Jan 05, 2011
- 'Recuperating' Tanvir dropped from Pak squad for South Africa Test series - Nov 05, 2010
- Asia Cup: Bangladesh opt to field against Pakistan - Mar 22, 2012
- Pakistan recalls Nazir, Naved for Sri Lanka ODI series - Jul 22, 2009
- Asif recalled, Shoaib ignored in Champions Trophy squad - Jul 22, 2009
- Pakistan drop Razzaq, Kamran from ODIs, T20 side - Apr 06, 2011
- Pak selectors axe Razzaq, bring in Asif, Imran Nazir for Champions Trophy - Aug 21, 2009
- Afridi in, Malik out of PCB's squad for T20 World Cup - Mar 13, 2010
Tags: champions trophy, elite eight, fasting month, fawad alam, five pacers, gaddafi stadium, imran nazir, international cricket, kamran akmal, mohammad asif, mohammad yousuf, nation tournament, omar khalid, pakistan team, pakistan test, shahid afridi, shoaib malik, steroid nandrolone, ul haq, wicketkeeper
