Waqar to lead Pakistan

Fast bowler Waqar Younis will lead Pakistan in the the tri-nations one-day tournament in Singapore later this month. The 29-year-old bowler was entrusted the task after regular skipper Moin Khan pulled out of the series due to a knee injury. All-rounder Azhar Mahmood will be his deputy.

"Indeed it's an honour for me and I think it's a reward for my perseverance and performance," Younis said.

Younis, who last month became the first bowler to be suspended for ball tampering, led Pakistan in one Test and a single one-day international, in a career of 195 limited-overs games.

"The views were different but after considering his experiance we have put our confidence in him," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman General Tauqir Zia said.

The loss of Khan is a major blow to Pakistan, who will also be without pace spearheads Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, as well as big-hitter Inzamam-ul-Haq and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq for various reasons.

Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif was overlooked and Atiquz Zaman will take Khan's place.

Middle order batsman Ejaz Ahmed has been brought back to replace Haq after he was dumped for Pakistan's recent tours of Sharjah, West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Left arm paceman Kabir Khan was also included after a gap of two years.

The Singapore tournamnent, also involving South Africa and New Zealand, runs from August 20-27.

The team:

Waqar Younis (captain), Azhar Mahmood (vice-captain), Imran Nazir, Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhanna, Atiquz Zaman, Abdur Razzak, Arshad Khan, Kabir Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Hassan Raza and Shahid Afridi
Coach: Javed Miandad. Manager: Brigadier Mohammad Nasir.

Mail Cricket Editor