Pak selectors axe Razzaq, bring in Asif, Imran Nazir for Champions Trophy

October 7th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Stressing on the need of giving young players more exposure at the international level, former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmad has said that four new opening batsmen have caught his attention. Ahmad, who is a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee, said he has short listed four young openers and they would certainly be considered for the upcoming one-day series against New Zealand.

October 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee for selecting Imran Nazir as the only specialist opener for the ICC Champions Trophy. Nazar said though Nazir is one of the best batsmen in the T20 format of the game, one cannot rely on him to score runs consistently in one-day cricket.

September 24th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan opener Imran Nazir almost missed the chance of playing in the Champions Trophy after using a banned substance for treating a congenital breathing problems, but was cleared to play just in time. According to a report in The News Thursday, the batsman obtained the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the International Cricket Council (ICC) hours before the start of Pakistan's opening match against West Indies.

September 24th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Pakistan opener Imran Nazir got a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the International Cricket Council (ICC) only hours before the ICC Champions Trophy match against West Indies, as the apex cricketing authority had first denied allowing Nazir to take the field. Sources privy to the Pakistani dressing room said that Nazir was given emergency medical treatment for his breathing problems, but the drugs given to him were proscribed.

September 19th, 2009 LAHORE - Experienced Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is disappointed over his non-selection for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa. Razzaq said he was surprised at not being selected.

August 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Former chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Abdul Qadir, has criticized the selection committee for omitting experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Qadir also condemned the committee's decision to ignore opening batsman Salman Butt for the eight nation tournament.

August 26th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Tainted Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has vowed not to repeat his past mistakes which saw him being banned from international cricket for a year. In an interview with PakPassion.net, Asif expressed happiness over his selection in the 15 member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and said he would justify the selectors' decision through his performance.

August 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Several former Pakistani cricketers have raised questions over the selection of fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz criticised the selection committee for Asif's selection, saying the tainted bowler should not be included in the 15 member squad as he has not participated in any international event for the last 18 months.

August 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - When Abdul Razzaq broke his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was recalled to the Pakistan national team this summer, the seasoned all-rounder thought he was back in the fold. And it seemed that Razzaq had cemented his place in the squad after his significant contribution in Pakistan's World Twenty20 championship win in England in June.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Supporting the selection committee's decision to bring back tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif into the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, chief selector Iqbal Qasim has said the decision to include Asif was taken only after a close monitoring of the bowler in the fitness camp. Qasim said Asif has been made to go through a rigorous fitness test in which he performed satisfactorily.

August 21st, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Friday recalled dope-tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif for the Champions Trophy in South Africa, bringing him in place of under-performing all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. Chief selector Iqbal Qasim announced the 15-man squad for the elite eight-nation tournament for which seasoned all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been promoted as vice-captain in place of misfiring middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq.

July 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - Fast bowler Mohammad Asif was recalled while Shoaib Akhtar was sidelined from Pakistan's 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy squad, announced Monday. Shoaib, who turns 34 next month, apparently failed to prove his fitness last week after which the selectors decided against recalling him in the provisional squad.

July 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - Two of the former Indian Cricket League (ICL) players-opener Imran Nazir and medium-pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan-were Wednesday recalled to the Pakistan squad after two years, for the One-day International series against Sri Lanka beginning July 30. Nazir and Naved return after severing ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League under the Pakistan Cricket Board's amnesty scheme.

July 10th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's banned Test pacer Mohammad Asif is eyeing a second successful comeback to international cricket this September after completing his one-year doping ban. Asif said in an interview Friday that he is currently training extensively at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore and will make a forceful return in the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, provided national selectors decide to give him a chance to play in the tournament.

June 7th, 2009 KARACHI - Cricket fans in Pakistan have expressed disappointment over the team's dismal show ahead of the ICC Twenty20 World Championship in England. Pakistan's back to back defeats in two practice matches against South Africa and India has saddened fans.