Ejaz dropped for one-dayer against England

Pakistan axed seasoned batsman Ejaz Ahmed for the first one-day international against England next week, chief selector Wasim Bari said on Thursday.

"It's true that he has performed well in the recent matches but we needed an allrounder in the middle order," Bari said.

The first of three one-day matches is scheduled under lights on Tuesday. It will be the first day-night match in Karachi's National stadium.

Ejaz said he was disappointed at being dropped but vowed to play his way back.

"The axe always falls on me but I have a history of comebacks and I will fight my way back into the team," he said.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed have been recalled for the match. Afridi was dropped from the recent International Cricket Council knock-out event in Kenya as punishment for entertaining women in his hotel room during a training camp at Lahore in August. Off-spinner Arshad Khan, who played in Kenya where Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the semi-final, makes way for Shoaib Malik.

Pace sensation Shoaib Akhtar last week said he needed another month to attain full fitness after receiving treatment in Australia for a shoulder injury.

The second and third limited over games, both under lights, will be held on October 27 and 30 in Lahore and Rawaplindi.

The squad: Moin Khan (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Salim Elahi, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhanna, Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzak, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Shoaib Malik.

Mail Cricket Editor