After Canada T20, Shoaib included in domestic Twenty20 squad

Lahore, Sep 20 (UNI) Temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been included in Pakistan's national Twenty20 tournament, which is due to start from October 4 at the Bagh-e-Jinnah and Lahore City Cricket Association Grounds.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while announcing its 15-member squads for all 13 participating teams, said Shoaib would be representing the Islamabad Leopards.

Recently the speedster was also included in the preliminary 20-man squad for the Canada Cup Four Nation Twenty20 tournament, scheduled to be held next month.

Last month, the PCB had issued an ultimatum on Shoaib to pay an outstanding fine of Rs 7 million (approx 105,000 dollars) after he criticised the PCB over its failure to award him a central contract.

The speedster was initially banned by the PCB for five years, but the sentence had been reduced to 18 months by an Appellate Tribunal in June.

The five-day-tournament will serve as a selection trial for the series in Canada, which would be Pakistan's first international assignment after the recent Asia Cup.

The high-profile Champions Trophy, scheduled between September 12-28, was postponed due to security reasons.

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