Discarded wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal could be a surprise inclusion in Pakistan's final World Cup squad after he continued his rich vein of batting form in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold league at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Kamran, out of favour with the selectors in the One-day format since last year after the Champions Trophy in England, was unbeaten on 131 on the fourth day of the five-day final for his team, National Bank against Sui Northern Gas, which is close to completing a hat-trick of Quaid Trophy titles.
"Kamran is in serious consideration for the final World Cup squad but not as a wicketkeeper but as a specialist batsman," a source close to the national selection committee said.
The source said that another wicketkeeper, Peshawar's Muhammad Rizwan, who also scored a superb 224 in the final, is also in the contention as the selectors had included him and Kamran in the preliminary squad of 30 probables.
He said Kamran had impressed the selectors with his innings on Thursday in the final, with chief selector Moin Khan also present at the stadium to watch his unbeaten innings.
"But the final nod for Kamran will come depending on whether he continues his purple patch in the Pentangular one-day Cup, which begins from December 31. The selectors will be closely watching the performance of some players including Kamran in the tournament after which the selectors plan to announce their final World Cup squad on January 7," the source added.
Gul may not be considered
The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar Khan has revealed that national cricket team's most experienced paceman, Umar Gul may not be considered for the final World Cup squad, as he yet to completely recovery from his knee problem.
Gul underwent an operation last year in Melbourne after suffering a recurrence of knee injury.
"The reports about Gul are not very encouraging and there are very slim chances that he will be considered for the final World Cup squad," Khan said.
Gul has struggled to touch top fitness and bowling form since completing the rehabilitation period after the knee surgery last year in May.
He suffered a recurrence of the knee injury last year after being called up for the limited over series against Sri Lanka in the UAE and was not considered for the Tests.
Last month again he had to return home from the UAE after his knee problem relapsed during the one-day series against New Zealand.
Gul, who has appeared in 47 Tests and 125 ODIs for Pakistan, has been the national team's most potent pacer in recent years before he suffered the knee injury.
Khan, meanwhile, said the fitness reports of left-arm pacer, Junaid Khan were very encouraging and he apparently regained 90 per cent fitness after injuring his knee during the one-day series against Australia in October.
Junaid has also been named to lead the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa team in the Pentanglar one-day cup.
