Lahore, May 28: Controversial seamer Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez may find place in the national squad for the Asia Cup, sources said.
Though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has doubts over Akhtar’s match fitness, it believes that he has the potential to bowl well in the shorter versions of the game- the Twenty20 and 50-over matches, a PCB official, on the condition of anonymity, told ‘Dawn’.
”Shoaib Akhtar is no more Test cricket material,” the PCB official said. ”But he could be utilised in patches. He deserved being given a chance after performing well in the Pentangular Cup in which he claimed 12 wickets to finish as the second-best bowler of the tournament.” The controversial pacer will have to be cleared by the medical board in order to be considered for selection.
As for Hafeez’s selection, the official said, ”Though Hafeez failed miserably in the last World T20, he has good prospects of showing his mettle in the 50-over matches. Thus he will get a chance, despite criticism from some stakeholders.” ”If Hafeez misses this chance, he will be out of the team forever because PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has issued instructions to provide maximum chances to any player before discarding him.” The PCB official further that it was most likely that the final 15-member team for the Asia Cup would be announced on June 2. ”Head Coach Waqar Younis is scheduled to arrive here on June 1 and the announcement of the team will be made the next day,” the official added.
——–Agencies