Ending the prolonged controversy about his fitness, defending champions Pakistan named speedster Shoaib Akhtar in their 14-member team, built around the squad that lost to India at home recently, for next week's Asia Cup cricket tournament.

The national selectors also reposed faith on ageing wicketkeeper Moin Khan but speedster Umar Gul was left out of the squad announced in Lahore on Wednesday.

The inclusion of Shoaib, who had been in the eye of raging controversy following Pakistan's humiliation at the hands of India in the March-April series, is an indication that the establishment is keen to accommodate the star bowler despite his errant ways.

The team: Inzamam-ul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana (vice-captain), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naveed-ul Hassan.