Akram surprised at Irfan's omission from India's CT probables

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram said he was surprised by left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan's omission from India's 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy to be held in South Africa in September.

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram said he was surprised by left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan's omission from India's 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy to be held in South Africa in September.

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"I have no doubt that Irfan is a quality bowler and will comeback to the India team soon. He should not have been dropped from the (Champions Trophy) probables list," Akram told PTI.

"Had I been a selector, I would have included Irfan in the team. But he is young, just 24-years-old and has lot of time to play for his country," said the fast bowling great, who has 414 wickets from 104 Tests to his credit.

The BCCI selection committee-led by Krishnamachari Srikkanth last month left Irfan, who has 100 Test and 152 ODI wickets in his kitty, out of the Champions Trophy probables list due to his scratchy form.

The left-arm pacer's omission from the squad also sparked off a tiny controversy with his brother Yusuf blaming the selectors for dropping Irfan from the probables list on non-cricketing grounds, a claim from which he later retracted.