August 18  
Shoaib Akhtar returns to Pakistan fold

KARACHI: Express pacer Shoaib Akhtar has returned to the Pakistan fold for a tri-series in Kenya and next month's ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions trophy, while experienced off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq missed out in both events, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Saturday.

"Akhtar missed the Tangiers tri-series as he was resting and now he will be back for both the tri-series in Kenya and for the ICC Champions Trophy," chief selector Wasim Bari said.

Akhtar spearheaded Pakistan's attack in their 2-1 win over Australia in the Super Challenge series in June this year, but was not considered for the on-going tri-series in Morocco.

"Saqlain is unavailable for both the events so he was not considered." The Surrey off-spinner said he was unavailable because his wife is expecting their second baby later this month. Pakistan takes on world champions Australia and hosts Kenya in their Golden Jubilee tri-series, shifted to Kenya over security fears in Pakistan, from August 29 to September 7.

All ten Test playing countries, along with Kenya and the Netherlands, feature in the biennial ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Sri Lanka between September 12 and 30.

"Both are important tours and would give us an ideal opportunity to asses our team's strong and weak points ahead of next year's World Cup," Bari said.

Pakistan is placed with Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the ICC event. 

Squad for Kenya tri-series: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice captain), Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Younis Khan, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami and Misbahul Haq. Mudassar Nazar (coach) and Yawar Saeed (manager).

Squad for the ICC Champions Trophy: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice captain), Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Younis Khan, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Azhar Mahmood and Mohammad Sami. Mudassar Nazar (coach) and Yawar Saeed (manager).