Thaindian News

By Omar Khalid
Karachi, June 3(IANS) Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and former captain Shoaib Malik Thursday were recalled to the Pakistan squad for the 2010 Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka June 15-24.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source told IANS that both Akhtar and Malik passed strenuous fitness tests Wednesday in Lahore.

National selectors and Pakistan team management met in Lahore Thursday and voted in favour of the inclusion of Akhtar and Malik in the 15-man squad for the four-nation Asia Cup.

Akhtar has not played for Pakistan since making an unimpressive appearance in the limited-over series against Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in May 2009.

Malik was banned for a year by the PCB in March this year for indiscipline during the catastrophic tour of Australia. However, the ban was lifted by a one-man appeals tribunal late last month.

Pakistani selectors have also shown faith in a few youngsters, including hard-hitting opener Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi will be the captain while left-handed opener Salman Butt will be his deputy. Pakistan will attend a brief training camp in Lahore before leaving for Sri Lanka June 12.

Pakistan Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt (vice captain), Imran Farhat, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman.