Shoaib Akhtar returns for Pakistan but no room for Malik or Younus

ISLAMABAD // The former captain Shoaib Malik has been dropped by Pakistan for next month's Twenty20 and one-day internationals against England. The 28-year-old Malik was also recently left out of Pakistan's Test side after scoring just one half-century in his last six matches. The 16-man squad included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who were ignored for the Test series against Australia and England this summer.

Shahid Afridi, who quit as Test captain this summer, will continue to lead Pakistan in the limited-overs formats. The selectors did not get clearance from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt to consider former captain Younus Khan for the Twenty20 and ODIs against England. "Even today I asked the chairman about Younis, but could not get clearance," Afridi told reporters. A PCB arbitrator lifted an indefinite ban on Younus in June for alleged infighting with Mohammad Yousuf during the disastrous tour of Australia earlier this year.

Afridi said he wanted to have a nucleus of 20-22 players to prepare for next year's World Cup in the subcontinent. Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who made his return to international cricket in Pakistan's victory over England at The Oval in the third Test last week, was also named in the squad. Kamran Akmal is the only specialist wicketkeeper in the group as Zulqarnain Haider has not recovered from a fractured finger.

Pakistan trail 2-1 in the four-match Test series against England, with Lord's hosting the final match starting on Thursday. Cardiff will host both Twenty20s against England, on September 5 and September 7, before the five-match ODI series starts from September 10.

Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Shazaib Hasan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Wahab Riaz. * AP