Saqlain misses Asian Test
25 August 2001
Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will miss the Asian Test Championship opener between
Pakistan and Bangladesh starting at Multan from Aug 29. The chairman of
selectors, Wasim Bari, who watched the first day's proceedings in the three-day
match involving the visitors, told newsmen that Saqlain would return on Sept 13.
Bari said Saqlain had some pressing domestic commitments in England. He,
however, clarified that his engagement had nothing to do with English county
Surrey.
The chief selector said the team for the Multan Test would be handed over to the
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Sunday. He said it would then be upto the
establishment when to release the squad to the media. Nevertheless, Bari hinted
that the team for the match had already been decided. "There are question marks
against a couple of players. But we have been discussing the team amongst
ourselves while Waqar Younis has already been consulted."
The chief selector said the playing lineup would be selected by the captain as
his committee's job would end with the picking of 15 players. Until last year,
the selection committee used to decide the playing lineup. But the change has
probably come after Waqar Younis threatened to quit if his views were not given
due consideration while finalizing the playing lineup.