Pakistan includes Akhtar in Champions Trophy squad

Express bowler Shoaib Akhtar will finally get a chance to realise his dream of ‘winning the ICC Champions Trophy for his country’ after being named in the 15-member squad for the showpiece event to be held in Pakistan.

The three-man selection committee that announced the squad in Lahore on Tuesday also recalled wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who was dropped from the six-nation Asia Cup held in Pakistan in June-July.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said Akhtar had shown remarkable fitness. "We held two trial matches in Multan, where Akhtar proved his fitness and he is willing to return and since he is determined, he is an asset for Pakistan," Ahmed told a press conference.

Akhtar has not played for Pakistan this year, but he took two wickets each in both the trial matches. He last played for Pakistan during its tour to India in 2007.

Shoaib was charged with a five-year ban on grounds of indiscipline earlier this year which was reduced to 18 months on appeal. Later, the Lahore High Court temporarily suspended an 18-month ban imposed on him by the PCB thus making his comeback passage simpler.

Pakistan has lost out on experience in the batting department after Mohammad Yousuf decided to opt out of the tournament as it clashes with the holy month of Ramzan. The selectors included two youngsters to fill the vacuum.

“Since we would miss Yousuf, we have included a specialist batsman, Bazid Khan, and have also brought in opener Khalid Latif," said Ahmed.

Explosive batsman Shahid Afridi, known for his slam bang approach, has had a dry run of late with the bat. With just three half-centuries in the past 18 months, there were talks of him being axed for the Champions Trophy. However, the selectors persisted with the veteran of 265 ODIs.

Pakistan also included injured fast bower Umar Gul in the line-up. Gul missed part of the Asia Cup due to back trouble. Another opener, Salman Butt, was also named in the squad. Both Gul and Butt had missed the trial matches. Butt had to undergo an appendix operation.

Squad: Bazid Khan, Sahibzada Afridi, Younus Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Nasir Jamshaid, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Tanveer, Shoaib Malik, Abdur Rouf Khan, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Khalid Latif.