No place for Wasim Akram

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram was omitted from a list of 27 probables named by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday for a training camp ahead of home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Fast bowler Akram, the only player in history to take more than 400 wickets in both tests and one-dayers, took just five wickets at a cost of 49.40 in Pakistan's two test series in England earlier this year.

"We have to try new players and the best time is the domestic series...that's our only chance before the World Cup," chief selector Wasim Bari told Reuters.

Bari said the PCB has embarked upon re-building the team, and Akram's omission had not signalled the end of his long and distinguished international career.

"We are rebuilding the team but we have to do it gradually so that balance of the team is not disturbed," said Bari.

"That does not mean Akram cannot play or will not be considered in future.

"If somebody is in good form and he is required for the team, we will consider him."

Pakistan kick of the home season with a test against Bangladesh on August 29, followed by a scheduled test against India under the Asian Test championship.

Pakistan also host New Zealand for a three-tests and one-day series from September 16.

Probables for the training camp are: Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umer, Saeed Anwar, Faisal Iqbal, Hasan Raza, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis, Irfan Fazil, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Naveed Latif, Naveed Rana, Shahid Afridi, Saqlain Mushtaq, Atiquz Zaman, Shoaib Akhtar, Fazle Akbar, Mohammad Akram, Yasir Irfat and Azhar Mahmood.

Mail Cricket Editor