Shahid Nazir gets nod, 16-member Pak team for England tour

Lahore, June 8 (UNI) Paceman Shahid Nazir was summoned back as Pakistan today announced a 16-member squad for the tour of England sans their injured spearhead Shoaib Akhtar.

The 30-year-old tearaway pacer is nursing a stress fracture in the ankle and has been advised another six-week rest before he can return to action.

''We (the selectors) felt it was not right risk him as we have a lot of matches lined up including the World Cup next year,'' chief selector Wasim Bari said here.

''His name will be considered later on when he starts bowling again. The selectors have recalled Shahid Nazir as his replacement,'' he said.

''In Shoaib's absence we needed a bowler who has experience of bowling in English conditions. So we have chosen Nazir,'' Bari said.

Nazir has played eight Test and his last Test appearance was in March 1999 against Sri Lanka. He toured India and the West Indies last year but did not play a single match.

Mohammad Sami, who has been sidelined since the home series against India earlier this year, also made a comeback.

Coach Bob Woolmer and captain Inzamam-ul Haq also attended the meeting along with chief selector Wasim Bari and his colleagues.

The first match of the four-test series against England starts at Lord's on July 13.

Pakistan (team) Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Rana Naved, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.

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