National selectors have recommended wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal’s name in Pakistan’s preliminary squad of 30 players for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September, despite the confusion on whether the Board has cleared him for selection or not.
A national selector confirmed that they had sent the name of Kamran in the preliminary list of players but his final inclusion would be subject to clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“The selectors are unanimous that if he is available for selection he certainly deserves a chance to make a comeback in the T20 format and so on,” the selector said.
Kamran, who last played for Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup, has since been sidelined by the Board which has not given clearance to the selectors to consider him for selection, mainly due to integrity issues.
The selectors have also recalled and included the names of dashing all-rounder, Abdul Razzaq and opener, Imran Nazir in the preliminary list of players for the Twenty20 World Cup.
Razzaq has not been selected for Pakistan since appearing against Sri Lanka last year while Imran Nazir has been ignored for the last two years despite doing well in domestic cricket.
“Yes we have included them in the list besides other good T20 performers like Shahzaib Hasan, Ovais Zia, Sharjeel Khan,” the selector said while declining to be named.
He said the final preliminary list had to be sent to the ICC around July 5 and the selectors were now waiting for the Board Chairman to return from abroad and give his approval, particularly in Kamran’s case.
Kamran’s name cropped up frequently during the selection process last month for the tour to Sri Lanka but he was sidelined again as confusion prevailed over whether the Board had cleared him.
