LAHORE - Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik were the players who didn’t get a place in the pool of 36 probables which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Tuesday for attending a summer training camp here from May 6.
The new selection committee has recalled Taufeeq Umar and Yasir Hameed for the camp. "The prime objective of holding the month-long activity is to engage the players in a competitive cricket activity to keep them in good trim and prepare them well for the upcoming tours and the World Cup 2015,” the PCB spokesman said on Tuesday.
Fast bowler Junaid Khan and off spinner Saeed Ajmal will not attend the camp due to their county commitments in England. Pakistan is set to play seven Tests, 13 ODIs and 2 T20s in the next 10 months. However, with the next international series three months away, the PCB was concerned about the lengthy lay-off period. Earlier, the gap was seven months, until the PCB managed to strike a deal for a short tour of Sri Lanka in August. Pakistan will then host Australia and New Zealand from October to December in the UAE.
Chief selector Moin Khan said: “We will have 36 players for the first phase of the training camp. The World Cup 2015 is the ultimate goal as we have to prepare for that on a day to day basis. We are planning for the whole year so we need players who can survive with their fitness, as it has been a concern. We have to keep a zero tolerance on fitness."
The notable omissions of wicketkeeper Kamran and all-rounder Malik were not surprising, especially after their dismissal performances in the recent World T20 in Bangladesh. Moin, however, said it wasn't the end of the road for both players.
"The recent performances by Shoaib and Kamran weren’t satisfactory but the doors aren't shut on them. Given the age factor, we have older players who are fit and performing so there is always a chance for a comeback. They are still in contention and with the upcoming domestic season they have to perform well to win back the selectors' faith," he added.
He stated that Pakistan players would be fined and face being dropped from the team if they do not meet required fitness standards in new plans designed by the national selection committee to prepare for the World Cup 2015.
Moin said unless players raised their fitness standards and worked on mental strength, they would not be able to compete internationally and win big matches.
He added that while the Pakistani players were talented they needed to focus on improving their fitness and mental strength.
The selectors also named the seven feet tall left-arm fast bowler M Irfan who has not played since October due to a fractured hip. “Irfan is a special bowler and paramount to our chances in the World Cup. We have select plans for him to ensure he is 100 percent fit and available when the time for the WC comes,” Moin said.
OPENERS: Ahmad Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed, Shan Masood, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Khurram Manzoor, Taufeeq Umar, Sharjeel Khan.
MIDDLE ORDER: Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Fawad Alam.
ALL-ROUNDERS: Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti
SPINNERS: Abdur Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan, Atif Maqbool, Yasir Shah.
FAST BOWLERS: Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Ehsan Adil, M Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami.
WICKETKEEPERS: Adnan Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed.