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Akram to lead team to Australia

Ignoring media reports about the alleged involvement of some leading players in the betting and match-fixing episode, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee today named Wasim Akram skipper of the 16-member squad for the crucial Test series against Australia, beginning next month.

Pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar and veteran Ijaz Ahmed have been recalled while Amair Sohail has been dropped from the team which leaves for Australia after the Coca Cola Cup final against Sri Lanka on Friday.

The team was announced by selection committee chairman Naushad Ali this afternoon, a day after a report in the Karachi-based daily, The News, said that the one-man Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum commission on betting and match-fixing has recommended that Salim Malik and Mushtaq Ahmed be banned, and fines imposed on Akram and three others -- Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq and Saeed Anwar.

The three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee met in Sharjah this afternoon and shortlisted the players for the tour. The committee, headed by Col Naushad Ali, includes Rameez Raja and Abdul Raqeeb. There are five reserve players.

Shoaib Akhtar arrived in Sharjah last night from London and appeared for a fitness test in the morning before he was included in the team, Col Naushad Ali told reporters.

The team: Wasim Akram (captain), Moin Khan (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yusuf Youhana, Ijaz Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Azhar Mahmood, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Wasim, Ghulam Ali, Mohammed Akram and Wajatullah Wasti.

Reserves: Waqar Yunus, Shahid Afridi, Hasan Raza, Shoaib Malik and Ateequr Zaman.

UNI

UNI