Kaneria, Sami tipped to join Pak squad for Tests

KARACHI: Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and pacer Mohammad Sami are likely to be included in the Pakistani Test team for the forthcoming three-match series against India.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Kaneria, Sami and batsman Faisal Iqbal are likely to replace Imran Nazir, Fawad Alam and Rao Iftikhar Anjum who will return after the one-day series ends on Sunday.

A national selector, however, made it clear that the final decision on the matter would be taken after discussions with the tour selection committee in India.

"The tour selection committee's views will be very important on what they want for the Test series," he said.

The tour selection committee did not play Fawad and Nazir in the first three one-dayers of the five-match series which Pakistan is trailing 1-2.

Sami has been impressive in the ongoing domestic season, having taken 17 wickets, and is being seen as a strong contender for a spot in the Test side in view of Mohammad Asif's elbow injury.

"With Asif now increasingly doubtful to be fit in time for the first Test in New Delhi from November 22, we obviously need to send a pacer to back up Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul," he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board's chief Executive Officer Shafqat Naghmi said they were still awaiting some feedback from an Australian sports medicine specialist on Asif's injury.

"One of the local specialists has already recommended surgery for his elbow problem. He will need to make a lot of effort to be ready for the Test series as his injury is such we can't put a time frame on when it will heal," Naghmi explained.