Officer Barbrady
3rd February 2005, 00:35
Arshad Khan, Shahid Nazir among candidates for India tour
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Off-spinner Arshad Khan and paceman Shahid Nazir have become important contenders to be recalled for the Indian tour after the persistent fitness problems faced by Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Wednesday that Arshad and Shahid stood very good chances of making the touring squad, as the selectors were keen to strengthen the bowling attack for the crucial tour. "Shabbir only has a 50-50 chance to recover in time for the tour from his knee injury and Umar Gul has been ruled out because of a stress fracture in his back. While Shoaib and Sami have also struggled with their fitness recently," he pointed out.
He also made the point that Pakistan was keen to take two specialist spinners to India as they were expecting slow and turning tracks for the Tests there. "At present we need someone to partner Danish Kaneria and the selectors feel Arshad, even at the age of 33, is the best choice because he is experienced and has consistently performed well at the domestic level," the official explained.
Off-spinner Arshad, who has a record of 30 wickets in eight Tests and 44 in 48 One-day Internationals, last played for Pakistan in November 2000 against England.
While swing bowler Shahid Nazir —still only 27 years —made his last appearance for Pakistan in the 1999-2000 season against Sri Lanka after playing eight Tests and 17 one-dayers.
Both have performed impressively for their teams in the ongoing domestic season with Shahid in particular topping the bowling averages with 52 wickets at an average of only 12.75 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy —followed by 11 wickets at 11.45 in the ABM Amro one-day tournament. Arshad, the off-break bowler from Peshawar, ended with 39 wickets in the Quaid Trophy at an average of 20.39.
The official said that when the team returned from Australia the selectors would sit down with the team management to reconsider the selections for the Indian tour. "But there is a feeling we need to add depth and experience to the bowling even if Shoaib and Sami are available," he stated.
He said Shabbir Ahmed’s recovery process had been put back because he started to bowl early in the nets and is now undergoing hydrotherapy treatment. "But he only has a 50-50 chance of making the tour as he is still struggling with his fitness and form," the official said.
He added that Hyderabad’s opening batter Faisal Athar, who scored four hundreds in the Quaid Trophy while accumulating 942 runs at an average of 70 and another 281 runs in the one-day tournament, was another one certain to make the Indian tour. Faisal has played just a single one-dayer for Pakistan in 2003 in Sri Lanka.
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Off-spinner Arshad Khan and paceman Shahid Nazir have become important contenders to be recalled for the Indian tour after the persistent fitness problems faced by Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Wednesday that Arshad and Shahid stood very good chances of making the touring squad, as the selectors were keen to strengthen the bowling attack for the crucial tour. "Shabbir only has a 50-50 chance to recover in time for the tour from his knee injury and Umar Gul has been ruled out because of a stress fracture in his back. While Shoaib and Sami have also struggled with their fitness recently," he pointed out.
He also made the point that Pakistan was keen to take two specialist spinners to India as they were expecting slow and turning tracks for the Tests there. "At present we need someone to partner Danish Kaneria and the selectors feel Arshad, even at the age of 33, is the best choice because he is experienced and has consistently performed well at the domestic level," the official explained.
Off-spinner Arshad, who has a record of 30 wickets in eight Tests and 44 in 48 One-day Internationals, last played for Pakistan in November 2000 against England.
While swing bowler Shahid Nazir —still only 27 years —made his last appearance for Pakistan in the 1999-2000 season against Sri Lanka after playing eight Tests and 17 one-dayers.
Both have performed impressively for their teams in the ongoing domestic season with Shahid in particular topping the bowling averages with 52 wickets at an average of only 12.75 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy —followed by 11 wickets at 11.45 in the ABM Amro one-day tournament. Arshad, the off-break bowler from Peshawar, ended with 39 wickets in the Quaid Trophy at an average of 20.39.
The official said that when the team returned from Australia the selectors would sit down with the team management to reconsider the selections for the Indian tour. "But there is a feeling we need to add depth and experience to the bowling even if Shoaib and Sami are available," he stated.
He said Shabbir Ahmed’s recovery process had been put back because he started to bowl early in the nets and is now undergoing hydrotherapy treatment. "But he only has a 50-50 chance of making the tour as he is still struggling with his fitness and form," the official said.
He added that Hyderabad’s opening batter Faisal Athar, who scored four hundreds in the Quaid Trophy while accumulating 942 runs at an average of 70 and another 281 runs in the one-day tournament, was another one certain to make the Indian tour. Faisal has played just a single one-dayer for Pakistan in 2003 in Sri Lanka.