Shoaib Malik set for ODI recall

Karachi: Pakistan selectors are reportedly planning to recall some of the discarded batsmen, including Shoaib Malik, in order to strengthen the national team’s batting line up.

According to the Daily Times, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that in the first stage the selectors were planning to recall discarded opener Yasir Hameed, middle-order batsman Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik into the one-day squad. Malik has been named in the national Twenty20 squad for the Australia series and T20 World Cup, but the selectors are yet to announce the One-day squad for the Australia series. Yasir has not been selected to play for Pakistan since 2010, and Fawad has also been out of favour with the selectors. "Their feeling is that the time is right to start planning ahead to stabilise the batting line-up in the ODI and Test formats," the source said. "The selectors feel that the batsmen are not scoring consistently, and secondly they are not getting big scores as was the requirement of the team. The plan is not only to recall some discarded players like Yasir and Fawad but also to give more responsibility to Malik and also try out some new faces," the source added. "The idea is to start rebuilding the batting line up by adding fresh players. That is one reason why the selectors have also picked the top performers of the last domestic season to attend a conditioning camp at the National Cricket Academy," the source further added. ANI