Pakistan select Kaneria, drop Afridi for first one-dayer

KARACHI, Dec 1 (Reuters) Pakistani selectors have dropped flamboyant all rounder Shahid Afridi for the first one-day international against West Indies on December 5.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was installed in Afridi's place in the 14-man squad today, while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also misses out as he completes his four-match ban.

Inzamam was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bringing the game into disrepute during the Oval test controversy in August and sat out three matches at the Champions Trophy.

Batsman Younis Khan will lead the side in Inzamam's absence.

The inclusion of Kaneria, who has played only 16 one-dayers, was hardly surprising following Afridi's poor form this year, scoring 114 runs and taking 14 wickets in 17 matches.

A veteran of 233 one-dayers, Afridi would be considered for the remaining four games of the series, a Pakistan Cricket Board official told Reuters.

The selectors have also recalled pacemen Rana Naved and Mohammad Sami after they struggled in the one-day series in England.

Squad: Younis Khan (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Sami, Abdul Rehman, Danish Kaneria.

REUTERS PM BS1414