Pakistan recall Akram for South Africa tour

Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram was named on Friday in both the Test and one-day squads for the tour of South Africa starting next month.

Chief selector Wasim Bari, announcing the squads for five one-day internationals and two Tests, said Akram had been picked for his experience.

"The pitches in South Africa traditionally assist the fast bowler so we felt that Akram with his experience would be ideal for those conditions in the Tests also," Bari told Reuters.

The 36-year-old Akram, Pakistan's highest wicket taker in Tests and one-day internationals with 414 and 485 wickets respectively, opted to miss the recent Test series against Australia in order to rest. Pakistan lost the series 3-0.

His last Test appearance for Pakistan was in January against Bangladesh when he had to leave the field with a hamstring injury after bowling just eight deliveries.

"He is too good a bowler to be ignored for such an important tour and we have concentrated on a strong pace battery for South African conditions," Bari said.

Akram has featured in just two of Pakistan's 10 Test matches since August, 2001, failing to take any wickets.

The selectors have announced a 17-man squad for the five one-day internationals starting on December 8, and 16 players for the two Tests that follow.

"Since the World Cup is also to be held in South Africa we want to try out the maximum number of players to see where they stand," Bari said.

The selectors retained veteran wicketkeeper Rashid Latif alongside 20-year-old Kamran Akmal in the one-day squad, despite the fact that Latif announced his retirement from Test cricket this week.

But they again ignored experienced opener Saeed Anwar, who was dropped for the current tour of Zimbabwe but was named on Thursday in a provisional squad of 30 for the World Cup.

"The opener's slot has always been a problem for us and we are going through a phase of trial and error. Anwar is a seasoned player and always there as a choice for us but we have to also look to the future," the chief selector added.

Pakistan one-day squad for South Africa tour:
Taufeeq Umar, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Yousuf Youhana, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq Rashid Latif, Kamran Akmal, Waqar Younis (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Zahid, Faisal Iqbal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Sami.

Test squad:
Taufeeq Umar, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Waqar Younis (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Zahid, Faisal Iqbal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Sami, Hasan Reza.

Pakistan in South Africa
3 December	vs NFO XI	Randjesfontein
5 December	vs South Africa 'A'	Benoni
8 December	1st ODI	Durban
11 December	2nd ODI	Port Elizabeth
13 December	3rd ODI	East London
14 December	vs Border Invitation XI	Alice
16 December	4th ODI	Paarl
18 December	5th ODI	Cape Town
20-23 December	vs South Africa 'A'	Pietermaritzburg
26-30 December	1st Test	Durban
2-6 January	2nd Test	Cape Town

Mail Cricket Editor