Shoaib included in Asia Cup camp

Pakistan's cricket selectors have invited fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to attend their Asia Cup training camp.

Akhtar made Friday's list of 26 players despite a row with the Pakistan Cricket Board over his availability and fitness for the prestigious regional tournament being held next month in Sri Lanka after a gap of four years.

"He has been called for the training camp. But his final selection would be subject to his passing a fitness test," chief selector Wasim Bari told Reuters.

"He is a senior player and match winner. But he has had fitness problems in the last few months and we have been following his progress for (English county side) Durham closely. If he is fully fit it will be good for the team," Bari said.

Akhtar has been recovering from a rib injury.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates are taking part in the tournament from July 16.

The Pakistan players will attend a training camp from June 28 in Lahore, with their new English coach Bob Woolmer arriving on July 2 to take charge of preparations.

Woolmer replaced former Test captain Javed Miandad as coach earlier this week.

The selectors have also recalled all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez, who was dropped last year in the Test series against South Africa after playing 21 consecutive one-dayers and three Tests.

Players named for the training camp:

Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Younis Khan, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Salman Butt, Riaz Afridi, Zahid Saeed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Bazid Khan, Yasir Arafat.

Asia Cup itinerary.

July 16 - Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, India vs UAE
July 17 - Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Sri Lanka vs UAE
July 18 - Pakistan vs Hong Kong, Sri Lanka vs India

Phase II (all matches to have reserve days
July 21 - A2 vs B2, A1 vs B1
July 23 - A2 vs B1
July 25 - A1 vs B2
July 27 - B1 vs B2
July 29 - A1 vs A2

August 1 - Final

August 2 - Reserve Day