Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar made a comeback while senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf and dope-tainted pacer Mohammad Asif were left out of Pakistan's 30-member preliminary squad on Tuesday named for the Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan board, announcing the squad in Lahore at a press conference, said Yousuf had requested not be considered for the event because of his religious commitments.
"Since the Champions Trophy falls in the month of Ramzan, Yousuf said he should not be considered for selection for the tournament," said Shafqat Naghmi, chief operating officer of the board.
There was much speculation about whether Akhtar would make the Champions Trophy preliminary squad since last week after the selectors confirmed he was on their list for the tournament.
But the Board had made it clear that Akhtar would only be considered if he paid the fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by the appellate tribunal last month.
Akhtar, through his lawyer, informed the Board he would not pay the fine immediately as his writ petition was still pending in the Lahore High Court.
"Since he has committed to pay the fine when the court reaches a decision we have no problems. We never said he would not be considered if he didn't pay the fine immediately," Naghmi said in a change of heart.
The change apparently coming after Asif, who was in the preliminary squad was dropped after failing a dope test during the Indian Premier League.
"We want to give Shoaib a legitimate chance to prove his fitness and win back his place in the team," Naghmi said.
The Lahore High Court earlier this month suspended the 18 months ban imposed on Shoaib by the appellate tribunal. Naghmi also disclosed that all the selected players would undergo dope tests in Lahore on the July 19 and 20 of this month.
"Any player who fails the test or avoid giving a sample would not be considered for the final Champions Trophy squad and will also face disciplinary action under our anti-doping regulations," Naghmi said.
The list of probables: Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul Haq, Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shahad, Khurrum Manzoor, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Bazid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Arafat, Mansoor Amjad, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Mohammad Ali, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf, Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Amir, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal.
