LAHORE: Pakistan selectors Tuesday included spot-fixing suspect Kamran Akmal in a preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup but left out former captain Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. The committee twice deferred the announcement of the squad as it sought clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on players who were reportedly under suspicion of match-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England last year. The 10th World Cup will be hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from Feb. 19 to April 2, with 14 teams competing. The Pakistani team, currently in New Zealand, lost the three-match Twenty20 series 2-1 last week and now plays the first of the two Tests, at Hamilton from Jan. 7. The Tests will be followed by six One-Day Internationals. World Cup 2011 preliminary squad: Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Misbahul Haq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Naved Yasin, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Rana Navedul Hasan, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Tanveer Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheama, Asad Ali. Tour match drawn Misbanul Haq made an unbeaten 126 as Pakistan was bowled out for 287 in its three-day tour match against a New Zealand XI, which ended in a draw at Whangarei, New Zealand, Tuesday. Pakistan conceded a 97-run lead to the New Zealand XI, which made 384 in its first innings. The New Zealand side was 111-4 in its second innings when stumps were drawn early. Pakistan captain Misbah dominated Pakistan's innings. – Agence France
