Younis Khan's indefinite ban from Pakistan cricket may have been overturned but a pardon from the board is one thing, support from the selectors quite another. Younis, Pakistan's captain, has been omitted from Pakistan's tour parties in England this summer in a shock decision that many will view as political.
Younis was one of seven players banned or fined by the Pakistan board after a winless tour of Australia last winter and an inquiry that suggested that the team had been riven by infighting. Younis and Shoaib Malik had indefinite bans rescinded on appeal but, while Shoiab is included in both the Test and Twenty20 squads, Younis has been overlooked.
Pakistan have also named Danish Kaneria in the Test squad, with no objection from the ECB, while investigations by Essex police continue into suspicions of involvement with illegal bookmakers last season. Kaneria, who denies any wrongdoing, is also still playing for Essex.
To add colour to the summer Shoaib Akhtar has been named in the Twenty20 squad, although he is not deemed fit enough for the Tests. The fast bowler Umar Gul also returns after shoulder trouble as does the opening batsman Yasir Hameed, whose last Pakistan appearance was three years ago. The Test squad also includes three uncapped players: a 31-year-old pace bowler, Tanveer Ahmed, and two batsmen, Umar Amin and Azhar Ali.
Pakistan face Australia in two Twenty20 internationals and two Tests, followed by four Tests, two Twenty20s and five ODIs against England. The squad for the ODIs will be named at a later date.
Test squad: Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Zulqarnain Haider, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal.
Twenty20 squad: Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam.
