Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik as expected, has been included in the national team for Zimbabwe tour.
An official of the Pakistan Cricket Board said: “The national selection committee, in consultation with the team management, has decided to include Shoaib Malik into the National Squad for Zimbabwe Tour. “Malik will join the team on last day of national camp being held in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore,” he said.
The 29-year-old, selected for Pakistan for the first time since last year’s tour of England, was accused of failing to account for money held in an overseas bank account but has been cleared by the PCB. The clearance, endorsed by the selection panel, paved the way for his return to international cricket.
Selection Committee Chairman Mohsin Khan said: “His name was already in the reserve list of players for the tour and the PCB integrity committee cleared him last week. After discussions with the team management everyone agreed that with his experience the team would be further strengthened.”
Malik was handed the reins of the team after Pakistan’s first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. But the PCB axed him as captain following the team’s 2-1 defeat in a home one-day series against Sri Lanka in 2009. He has so far played 32 Tests, 192 ODIs and 32 Twenty20 matches since making his debut in 1999.
National team coach Waqar Younis said: “Shoaib’s inclusion will bolster the strength of the team. He has lots of cricket left in him and it is good that he is again available to play for Pakistan.” It may be recalled that the PCB Integrity Committee headed by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt Friday had given a clean chit to Shoaib Malik on his submission of the full details of his foreign bank accounts to the committee, which had raised the possibility of his getting included into the national cricket team.
Pakistan opens the Zimbabwe tour with a two-day practice match on August 28 before playing one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.
Malik to join Pak squad for Zimbabwe
