Pakistan included paceman Shoaib Akhtar and former captain Shoaib Malik in their 15-man squad for the Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka later this month, selectors announced on Thursday.
The 34-year-old Shoaib was found fit for the June 15 to 24 four-nation tournament after selectors and top Pakistan Cricket Board officials carried out checks on Wednesday. A medical report has also declared him fit.
Shoaib, whose 13-year career has been riddled with injuries and controversies, has not played for Pakistan since May last year because of knee problems but showed good form in a recent domestic one-day tournament. The 28-year-old Malik had a one-year ban lifted last week, clearing his return to international cricket. He also passed a fitness test. “Both Akhtar and Malik passed fitness tests and hence were included in the squad and it’s a balanced squad,” PCB chairman Ejaz Butt told reporters. — AFP
Squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Imran Farhat, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman