Pakistan drops Moin from squad for England tour

Karachi, April 24: Former captain Moin Khan has been dropped from an initial 20-member Pakistan squad for the tour of England next month but ace paceman Wasim Akram has been included, cricket officials said Tuesday.

"The final 16 will be announced in a couple of days subject to fitness of some of the players," Pakistan Cricket Board director operations Brigadier Munawwar Rana Khalid said.

He said a foreign coach is likely to accompany the team but no name has been finalised as yet.

South African-based Englishman Richard Pybus is tipped for the job, while Daryl Foster may go as bowling coach, sources said.

Express pacer Shoaib Akhtar features among the 20 after Australian experts cleared his bowling action.

"We have received a report from a panel of experts who have cleared Akhtar's bowling action," Khalid said.

Akhtar's action was questioned in New Zealand last month.

He was sent to Perth, Australia to undergo corrective measures on his action under the guidance of former Western Australian coach Daryl Foster and fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee.

Waqar Younis, who replaced skipper Moin Khan during last month's Sharjah Cup, will lead the team.

Rashid Latif, 32, who played 22 Tests until March 1998 before falling out with fellow players over match fixing allegations, has been recalled.

"I am pleased to be back and hope to do my best on the tour," he said.

"My inclusion has strengthened my belief in justice and I am pleased such things do happen," Latif said.

Latif lost favour with selectors and teammates after he claimed fellow players were involved in match fixing.

Pakistan will play two Tests in England and later feature in a limited overs tri-series also involving world champions Australia.

Pakistan has won its last three series in England but lost to Nasser Hussain's England in the home series 1-0 last year.

Squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Wasim, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhana, Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Salim Elahi, Azhar Mahmood, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Abdur Razzaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Fazle Akbar.