: The national selection committee will meet here on Wednesday to finalise a 15-member national squad for the upcoming six-match One-day International series against New Zealand.
Along with the announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to name the captain for the ODI series starting in New Zealand from Jan 22.
It is learnt that though the selectors have almost finalised the names for Pakistan’s last ODI assignment before the all-important World Cup, a final discussion in this regard will be held on Wednesday for the squad’s formal announcement after PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s approval.
The PCB has already sought visas of maximum players, who have the chances to be selected in the team.
Though all-rounder Shahid Afridi led Pakistan in the three-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand last month, he has yet to receive a green signal from the board to continue to lead the team in the one-day series too.
This has raised doubts over his captaincy as the PCB chairman in his last meeting with Afridi cautioned him to bring improvement in his conduct and individual performance on the field.
Meanwhile, sources said though veteran middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has been included in the list of 30 probables for the World Cup, his selection for the New Zealand ODIs seems very much unlikely.
Sources added since the PCB has no information about Yousuf’s recent form and physical fitness, picking him for the said series will be a risk. And if Yousuf fails to find a place in the team for the New Zealand ODIs his chances to be included in the World Cup squad will be bleak.
As the PCB has decided to retain, for the World Cup, almost the same team which will be selected for the series against the Kiwis, adjusting Yousuf in the team for the 2011 extravaganza (if he is not chosen for the New Zealand games) will be tough for the selectors, sources said further.
