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Asia Cup - 2004
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Asia Cup - 2004
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News
Pakistan announces 14-member
Asia Cup squad
KARACHI: Pakistan on Wednesday announced a 14-member squad for the
defence of its Asia Cup crown due to start in Sri Lanka next week.
Fiery pacer Shoaib Akhtar has been included in the team to spearhead
Pakistan's Asia Cup title defence after recovering from a rib injury
sustained in the April series against India.
Rivals India, hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and
Hong Kong also feature in the event from July 16-August 1, last held
in 2000 and won by Pakistan.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong are placed in group A while
India, Sri Lanka and the UAE are in group B.
Two teams from each group will qualify for the single league of four
teams, with the top two teams meeting in the final.
"We have announced the team after discussion with captain Inzamam-ul
Haq and coach Bob Woolmer and believe that this side has the
capability to defend the Asia Cup," chief selector of Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB) Wasim Bari said.
"Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer assessed Akhtar's fitness in the
training camp and conveyed that he is ready to spearhead Pakistan's
attack in the Asia Cup," Bari said.
Akhtar's injury - which came in the decisive Rawalpindi Test of the
series which Pakistan lost to India - was seen as suspicious and was
examined by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) medical commission.
The PCB let him off with a warning saying the tests conducted
remained inconclusive.
Middle order batsman Younis Khan and opener Imran Nazir earned
recalls but fast rising pacer Umer Gul was left out after he failed
to regain full fitness from a back injury sustained in the series
against India.
"Everybody had to learn from his mistakes and we hope that this
young team learns from theirs in the home series against India,"
said Bari.
Pakistan lost both the one-day and Test series against India, their
first defeats in both forms of the game on home soil against the
arch rivals which resulted in coach Javed Miandad's termination.
Team: Inzamam-ul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana (vice-captain), Imran
Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul
Razzaq, Moin Khan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar,
Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naveedul Hassan.
Bob Woolmer (coach), Haroon Rasheed (manager), Murray Stevenson
(trainer).
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