Cricket: Akram returns to favour in lead-up to New Zealand visit

KARACHI - Controversial former captain Wasim Akram has been named in a pool of 23 players to prepare for the upcoming home series against New Zealand.

Akram, who has taken a record number of wickets for Pakistan and was a central figure in Pakistan's match-fixing inquiry last year, had earlier been left out of the 27 probables for the training camp for the Asian test championship, but was included later in the final XI against Bangladesh at Multan last week.

The 35-year-old, who has taken 419 wickets in 103 tests and 440 in one-day internationals, failed to take any wicket in his 19 overs as Pakistan crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 264 runs.

However, captain Waqar Younis has reportedly backed Akram's inclusion in the camp, despite the long-running rivalry between them.

New Zealand arrive in Pakistan on September 14 to play three one-day internationals and as many tests.

The first one-dayer will be in Karachi on September 19 and the other matches will be held in Lahore on September 22 and Rawalpindi on September 25.

Pakistan will miss key batsman Inzamam-ul Haq in the first two games because he is under suspension by the International Cricket Council for showing dissent over a decision in the final of the tri-series against Australia at Lord's in June.

Inzamam was fined and given a two-match suspension by match referee Brian Hastings, of New Zealand, after Peter Willey gave him out leg-before to Shane Warne.

Inzamam is Pakistan's second highest run-getter after Saeed Anwar in limited overs cricket, with 8028 runs in 248 matches.

Quick bowler Mohammad Zahid is ready to stage a comeback in international cricket after being sidelined for three years with severe back trouble.

Zahid, 25, made a sensational entry into test cricket by taking 11 wickets at Rawalpindi when New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 1996-97. He was contracted by English county Nottinghamshire in 1997, but failed to play because of his back problem and played the last of his four tests at Peshawar against Australia in 1998-99, a test distinguished by Mark Taylor's epic 334 not out.

- AGENCIES