After failing to make much impact in the ODI series, flamboyant all-rounder
Shahid Afridi was today left out of the 14-member Pakistan cricket squad
for the three-match Test series against India starting November 22.
Apart from Afridi, three others -- Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar and Imran Nazir --
will also return home after the fifth and final one-dayer in Jaipur.
"These four (Afridi, Alam, Iftikhar and Nazir) will return
home after the final one-dayer in Jaipur," Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed
said.
The selectors have brought in leg spinner Danish Kaneria, pacer Mohammad
Sami and batsman Faisal Iqbal in place of the omitted quartet.
Pakistan have already lost the five-match ODI series
after losing the fourth game in Gwalior yesterday to go down 1-3.
Defending Afridi's exclusion, Salahuddin said it would have
been difficult to strike a balance in the Test team if the all-rounder had been
accommodated.
"If we play three pacers and Danish it is difficult to find a place for
him. He is such a senior player, we feel it is better he comes home," Salahuddin
said.
Earlier, pacer Mohammad Asif failed to pass a fitness test, which ruled
him out of the series.
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