 The Pakistan selectors have selected Mohammad Yousuf for the ODIs and the
T20Is that the side will play in England. The ODI and the T20I series will begin
after the current Test series, which England leads 2-1. It is a five-ODI two Twenty20
series that will be played in September. However, Younis Khan does not feature
in the squad after the PCB chairman, Ejaz Butt refused to clear him.
Amongst others, Shoaib Malik, was axed from the side after the selector Mohsin
Khan described his the move due to lack of his form and performance.
Yousuf had recently retired from international cricket after he was banned
by the PCB. He was then cleared of any wrongdoing and was asked by the board
to join the Pakistan Test team in England. He made a half century in
his first appearance after the ban and was instrumental in the Pakistani win.
However, when quizzed about the inclusion of Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi,
the captain of the Pakistani side said that he had had a talk with the chief
of the PCB but the clearance was not provided by the PCB.
Malik was also one of the players who had been banned by the PCB recently but
had his ban lifted by the PCB. He had returned back to the side, but failed
to perform too well and was dropped from the playing eleven of the third Test
match. In the last 12 months, Malik's average is 30 with the bat in 11 ODIs.
Azhar Ali, who is a part of the Test matches in England has been given a chance
to play in the shorter format. Ali hasn't yet set the stadiums alight, but he
has done his but with a couple of important innings on the tour so far. Fawad
Alam has also been picked up as an all-rounder to replace Malik, as he can bat
in the middle-order and bowl left-arm spin.
Mohammad Hafeez, who was a part of the Pakistani side in the ICC World T20
has also been picked by the selectors. He can bat at the top of the order and
bowl off-spin. He replaces Imran Farhat in the side.
Shoaib Akhtar, who was a part of the Asia Cup and bowled his heart out
in that tournament gets another chance to play in the ODIs and T20Is. He will
join Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and a fit-again Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz
as the pace bowling department.
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