overs captain Shahid Afridi wishes senior players Shoaib Malik and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were in the team for the tour of New Zealand. The selectors have ignored Malik and Akmal for next month's three Twenty20s and two Tests against New Zealand. The squad for six One-Day Internationals against the Black Caps will be named later. “They (Malik and Akmal) are requirements of the team,” Afridi said in Karachi Friday. “I think you (reporters) should ask the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selection committee what's the problem in the selection of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal.” Malik's exclusion from the tour has surprised all because of his impressive form in the domestic first-class competition. Malik was also not named in the match-fixing or spot-fixing controversy that marred Pakistan's tour of England. Three Pakistan cricketers are under suspension and four more were named in a video obtained and aired by Geo television Tuesday, when players' agent Mazhar Majeed pointed finger at Akmal. Akmal averages more than 27 in 123 ODIs since 2002, but his glovework hasn't been as good as his batting. Malik, who also played in the 2007 World Cup, was dropped for the recent series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, and Afridi said it was due more to the all-rounder's poor form. “Malik has always been good,” Afridi said. “If he was dropped it doesn't mean he was out of the national team forever. “When a player stays away from international cricket for one or two series, it gives him good time to think about and realize his mistakes.” After Pakistan lost the Twenty20 and one-day series to South Africa in the UAE, Afridi said he needed experienced players for next year's World Cup. China as neutral venue The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering using China as a neutral venue for its international cricket events, Chinese state media said Friday, amid security concerns in Pakistan. The official Xinhua news agency cited sources as saying that the board's director Javed Miandad had submitted a report to the PCB suggesting its management “take special steps to finalize China as a neutral venue.” South Africa names squad South Africa named inexperienced all-rounder Ryan McLaren in a 15-man squad Friday for the first Test against India later this month. The game in Centurion is the first in a three-Test series. Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Gibbs' contract canceled The international career of South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs appeared over Friday after his contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) was canceled by mutual consent. Gibbs, whose last appearance for the national team was 10 months ago in a one-day international against India, launched his autobiography “To the Point” last month and alleged a clique led by captain Graeme Smith wielded huge power. “It has been decided that this is the best way forward for both parties,” CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said in a statement released Friday in Johannesburg.
