Pak selectors includes Shoaib in provisional T20 squad

Lahore, Sep 18 (UNI) In spite of a row over unpaid fine that is threatening to end Shoaib Akhtar's international career, the Pakistani selectors have picked a preliminary squad for next month's Twenty20 quadrangular in Canada, including the controversial pacer in it.

''The national selection committee has chosen 20 odd players for the Canadian assignment, out of which 15 will be playing in the October 10-13 quadrangular,'' the sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told 'The News' yesterday.

The list includes Shoaib Akhtar, who was recently axed from next month's National Twenty20 Cup over his failure to pay up a fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by a court over repeated breaches of discipline.

But Shoaib has managed to find a place in the provisional squad for the four-nation event as the selectors have given the names of all leading cricketers so that they can be issued Canadian visas ahead of the Pakistan team's departure for Toronto on October 8.

Sources said Shoaib's name will be included in the final squad provided he resolved the fine issue with the PCB ahead of the team announcement.

Pakistan are expected to name their team for the Toronto event.

The PCB has already made it clear that the Rawalpindi Express cannot return to national duty till he clears the fine.

Shoaib's lawyers have assured the PCB that their client will try to resolve the issue soon.

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