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Pakistan recall Akhtar, Malik for Asia Cup

Pakistan recalled fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Thursday for this month’s Asia Cup one-day tournament.

The controversial Akhtar is back after spending a year in the wilderness due to fitness and disciplinary problems while Malik returns after serving three months of a 12-month ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Captain Shahid Afridi told a news conference in Lahore the selectors felt the 34-year-old Akhtar could still play international cricket.

‘It is true he has not played for a while now but we feel he still has some years of cricket left in him and we want to exploit that,’ Afridi said.

Akhtar last played for Pakistan in a one-day series against Australia in May last year and then underwent knee surgery.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he and Malik were picked after passing fitness tests.

Malik was banned by the board on the recommendation of an inquiry committee that found him guilty of misconduct on the troubled tour to Australia earlier this year.

The board also banned and fined six other players.

‘As far as discipline is concerned I admit the board has made some mistakes in the past and shown leniency but now we are following a zero tolerance policy on discipline,’ Butt said.

He added the team’s management had been given unlimited powers and they could send any player home who breached the code of conduct.

The selectors have also included three uncapped batsmen in the 15-man squad — Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq.

While Shahzaib has played in Twenty20 internationals this is his first time in the one-day squad.

The Asia Cup, which also features hosts Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, starts on June 15.

Pakistan squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahzaib Hasan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq.