Pakistan drop Gul, Malik, Younis for Sri Lanka ODI series

Karachi: Pakistan on thursday left out experienced fast bowler Umar Gul from their 15-man squad for the forthcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka starting in Sharjah next week.

The national selectors also ignored all-rounder Shoaib Malik and senior batsman Younis Khan for the five match series. Another notable omission was veteran Abdul Razzaq, who had to return from South Africa after injury. The selectors picked a young looking batting line-up with captain Misbah-ul-Haq the senior most batsman along with vice-captain Muhammad Hafeez. Gul had appeared in a fitness test few days back in Lahore but could not satisfy the selectors since he has played just a few T20s and one-day games. The selectors have also dropped young left-arm pacer Usman Khan Shinwari from the squad after rushing him into the national side for the two T20 matches against Sri Lanka. Shinwari, 20, played the first T20 game yesterday but bowled just one over. Left-arm pacer, Muhammad Irfan has also been ruled out of the one-day series with a hip injury which he picked up during the series against South Africa in the UAE. Pakistan beat South Africa 2-1 away last month - the country`s first ever win against the Proteas. The PCB chairman Najam Sethi has announced that Misbah will continue to lead the one-day and Test side until the next World Cup in 2015. Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Muhammad Hafeez (vc), Ahmed Shahzad, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Rehman and Saeed Ajmal.