Performance in all formats of the game considered for WC: Khan

Karachi, Jan 18 (PTI) Pakistan chief selector Mohsin Khantoday said that they picked the best available squad dependingon the performance of the players in all formats of the gamein recent times.

The national selectors today omitted senior batsmanMuhammad Yousuf from the final 15-member World Cup squad whichwas announced today without naming the captain.

"We have stuck with those players who have beenperforming well for Pakistan in all forms of the game inrecent times," he said.

Khan, however, did not explain why Yousuf was omitted.

Former captain Yousuf, a veteran of 90 Tests and 288one-day internationals was named in the preliminary squad of30 players for the World Cup.

But today the selectors decided to show faith withyoungster Asad Shafiq, instead of Yousuf who was captainingthe Lahore team in the ongoing national one-day championshipin a bid to convince the selectors he was fit and in form forthe tournament.

Sources said that the selectors were not satisfied withthe senior batsman''s fitness.

The selectors have however kept faith with senior fastbowler Shoaib Akhtar, who will lead a pace attack that alsoincludes Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir who has stillto play for the national squad since recovering from a majorknee operation.

The selectors have also picked two specialist spinners inAbdul Rehman and Saeed Ajmal who have become regular membersof the national team in recent months.

Mohsin said that the two spinners were picked despite thepresence of Afridi and Muhammad Hafeez because the conditionsin India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh suited the slow bowlers.

"We are confident that the two spinners will deliver thegoods in the World Cup," he said.

All the players who are presently touring New Zealand forthe one-day series were named in the 15-man squad indicatingthat the selectors had faith in their ability to do well inthe mega event starting from February 19.

But the decision to not name the captain for the WorldCup although Shahid Afridi has led the team in T20 and ODIsince last year and is also presently captain for the seriesin New Zealand indicates that Test captain Misbah-ul-Haqremains a strong choice to also lead the one-day squad.

Afridi had said before leaving for New Zealand last nightthat he had never run after the captaincy and the board hadevery right to appoint anyone it felt deserved the captaincy.

"I am under no pressure because of the captaincy,"Afridisaid.

Pakistan''s outing in the last two World Cups in 2003 and2007 had been disappointing as they were eliminated in thepreliminary rounds.

Pakistan squad: Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, YounisKhan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Kamran Akmal,Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, ShoaibAkhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir.