Pakistan again defer preliminary World Cup squad

CRICKET: LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 01 (AFP) - Question marks over several key players forced Pakistani selectors Friday to defer the announcement of a preliminary squad for the World Cup and a team for the six-match one-day series against New Zealand. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have extended the deadline of announcing the preliminary squad from December 19 to January 5 only for Pakistan as they needed to seek clearance of some players who are under suspicion of match-fixing.

Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria were not selected for the recent series against South Africa and for the current tour of New Zealand after they were alleged of involvement in match-fixing.

The three players appeared before a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) integrity committee on Thursday for interrogation over the allegations. The committee was formed following a directive from the ICC.

"The announcement of both the squads has been deferred till early next week," a PCB press release said.

The World Cup will be jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2. Except for Pakistan, all other 13 countries have announced a preliminary squad. "It would be better to wait until there is absolute clarity from PCB on the availability of certain players," said chief selector Mohsin Khan, a former Pakistan opener. Three other key players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - were suspended by the ICC in September on spot-fixing charges during Pakistan's Lord's Test against England a month earlier.

The trio are to appear before an ICC anti-corruption tribunal in Doha from January 6-11.

Pakistan are currently touring New Zealand, where they lost the Twenty20 series 2-1 on Thursday. The teams will next play two Test matches in January, followed by six one-day internationals.