Shoaib missing from Pak ODI squad

Pak selectors on Thursday decided to give Shoaib Akhtar more time to reclaim match fitness as they left him out of a tentative 16-man team.

The Pakistan cricket selectors on Thursday decided to provide Shoaib Akhtar more time to reclaim his top match fitness when they left him out of a tentative 16-man team for the six-match one-day series against India starting April 2 at Kochi.

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The final team will be announced on Friday after chairman of selectors Wasim Bari's telephonic discussion with the team management.

"The 16-man team has been finalised by the selectors and Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed have been left out chiefly because they are not yet match fit," sources close to the selection committee said.

Shoaib resumed bowling earlier this week while Shabbir Ahmed played a 50-over-a-side match on Thursday.

"Shabbir needs more time while Shoaib has not yet conveyed his availability. In all probability, the two players will stage their comebacks on the tour of the West Indies this summer," the sources said.

Shoaib missed the Test series with a hamstring injury but had hoped to return to the side for the one-dayers.

The selectors have decided to send opener Imran Farhat, all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and fast bowlers Shahid Nazir and Rao Iftikhar Anjum to India for the one-day series. The four-some will replace Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Khalil, Salman Butt or Yasir Hameed and Danish Kaneria or Arshad Khan.

"Today's (telephonic) discussion between the chief selector and the team management will revolve around who will be the opener and the spinner to return home," the sources said.

"As things stand at present, Yasir Hameed and Danish Kaneria are likely to catch the flights back home along with Taufeeq and Khalil," the sources said, adding "But the consent of the team management will be taken before the names are officially released.

"Kaneria is considered as a Test specialist by the team management while Yasir has been off form recently."