Pak announces squad for India series, Akhtar recalled

Shoaib Akhtar was recalled by Pakistan selectors after serving a 13-match ban as they announced a 16-member squad for the five-match ODI series against India.

Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Friday recalled by Pakistan selectors after serving a 13-match ban as they announced a 16-member squad for the five-match one-day international cricket series against India.

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Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told a press conference that Shoaib had been picked after one of the selectors gave a clear report on his fitness and match form.

Shoaib was banned for 13-matches and fined Rs 3.4 million earlier this month by the Pakistan board on four charges of misconduct after he hit fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with a bat in South Africa. He has played just one test and four one-dayers since February 2006 due to fitness and discipline related problems.

The chief selector said Shoaib would also be playing in the final ODI against the Proteas.

Pakistan lost to South Africa by a big margin of seven wickets on Friday and with the five-match one-day series level on 2-2 the final game is slated for Lahore on Monday.

Salahuddin, a former test player said that a well balanced squad had been picked for the one-dayers which will be played in Mohali, Kanpur, Gwalior, Jaipur from Nov 5.

"Hopefully if the team can win the one-day series against South Africa it will be a big morale booster for the Indian tour," he said.

Shoaib was also put on a two-year probation after he was found guilty by the disciplinary committee of the board of having violated the code of conduct when he hit Asif in early September.

Shoaib was sent back from South Africa before the twenty20 World Cup for the brawl.