Shoaib Malik to sit out from playing XI in Afro-Asia Cup ODIs

The newly appointed Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik will have to sit out from the playing eleven of the Asian team in the three one-dayers against the African team in the Afro-Asia Cup in India next month.

Karachi, May 17 : The newly appointed Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik will have to sit out from the playing eleven of the Asian team in the three one-dayers against the African team in the Afro-Asia Cup in India next month.

A four-member selection committee that picked the 14-player Asian team for the tournament was not able to find a place for the Pakistani all-rounder in the playing eleven.

The News quoted Mohsin Hassan Khan, Pakistan's representative on the selection committee, as saying, that he had tried to convince his other colleagues not to select Shoaib in the team "if he just had to sit there in the dressing room as a reserve".

"My argument was simple. I told the selectors that it would be unfair for a player who has just been appointed as the new Pakistan captain to be selected in Asia's squad merely as a reserve player. It could shatter his confidence," he added.

"...After a detailed discussion, we were all convinced that Malik cannot make it in the playing eleven," said Mohsin.

Malik was later selected to lead Asia in a Twenty20 game that would be played on June 5 ahead of the three ODIs, he said, adding, "It would be fitting for the new Pakistan captain to lead Asia in that match."

Besides Mohsin, the selection committee included SM Farooque (Bangladesh), Chetan Chauhan (India) and Lalith Kaluperuma (Sri Lanka).

The Afro-Asian Cup will be played in Bangalore and Chennai from June 5 to10.

The three one-dayers will be granted international status by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Asia's one-day squad: Mahela Jayawardene (SRI, captain), Sanath Jayasuriya (SRI), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Virender Sehwag (IND), Upul Tharanga (SRI), Mohammad Yousuf (PAK), Yuvraj Singh (IND), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND), Harbhajan Singh (IND), Chaminda Vaas (SRI), Shoaib Akhtar (PAK), Lasith Malinga (SRI), Mohammad Rafique (BAN), Mohammad Asif (PAK).

Asia's Twenty20 team: Tamim Iqbal (BAN), Imran Nazir (PAK), Mohammad Ashraful (BAN), Shoaib Malik (PAK, captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan (SRI), Shahid Afridi (PAK), Kamran Akmal (PAK, wicket-keeper), Farveez Maharoof (SRI), Abdur Razzak (BAN), Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN), Munaf Patel (IND).

ANI