On the recommendation of the selection committee, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-member squad for the forthcoming Indian tour. Inzamamul Haq has been retained as captain, while Younas Khan will be vice-captain. The other members of the team are: Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Khan Afridi, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Asim Kamal, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Sami, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan and Muhammad Khalil.

A spokesman of PCB said here on Saturday that the trainer as well as the physio at the PCB academy have tested pacers Muhammad Sami and Muhammad Khalil and both have been found fit. Fast bowler Shabbir Ahmad would require further training for full recovery.

To a question he said that Arshad Khan has been included in the squad on the basis of his consistent performance in domestic cricket and keeping in view conditions in India.

The selection committee, which comprises of Wasim Bari (chairman), Iqbal Qasim and Ehtishamuddin (members) consulted Captain Inzamamul Haq and Coach Bob Woolmer before finalising the squad.

Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Abdul Rauf and Faisal Akhtar have been kept in the reserves.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005