Pakistan captain Wasim Akram opts out of home series against Sri Lanka
khel.com, The News
Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has made the job of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) advisory
panel in selecting teams for the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka much easier. The star player
has officially informed the PCB that he is unavailable for the series owing to prior commitments with
the Channel IV television company in England, reports Paksitan daily ‘The News’.
Wasim had told PCB chairman General Tauqir Zia that he would not be able to play the three
one-dayers and three Tests against Sri Lanka between February 13 and March 17.
Wasim, who commentated for Channel IV during the England and New Zealand series last year
after the World Cup, has also told the PCB that he would inform them about his availability for
other international commitments after the series against Sri Lanka soon.
Thus, Wasim has created a scenario where it remains to be seen if the seasoned allrounder would
be able to fulfill his ambition of becoming the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in the next few
months when Pakistan play six more Tests in the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan would be playing a total of nine Tests between February and June. With Wasim opting out
of the home series, it means the advisory panel would now be able to freely execute its plan to
appoint a new skipper against Sri Lanka keeping in mind the next World Cup and also make some
changes to the team.
Although Moin Khan is being tipped to lead the side against Sri Lanka, sources close to the panel
say the move is not final since some members are also backing Aamer Sohail and Rashid Latif for
the job, as they argue both players got a raw deal during the time Wasim dominated cricket matters.
Moin is currently deputy to Wasim in the ongoing triangular one-day series in Australia.
Wasim, who became the first bowler in history to capture 400 one-day wickets few days ago in
Australia, has always had a stormy relationship with the establishment ever since his name was
linked to the match-fixing scandal. Despite moves to oust him he has weathered several storms
during last two years to emerge as a successful leader, but in the process has also displayed
dictatorial qualities and opposed the players who linked him to the match-fixing scandal. But now
sources in Australia stated that he himself had got an inkling from the PCB that the advisory panel
wanted to appoint someone else as captain.