Pakistan news

Malik, Kamran and Kaneria to appear before PCB committee

Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria will appear before the PCB's integrity committee in Lahore on Thursday as the board considers their future involvement with the Pakistan side.

The three have not played for Pakistan in any format since the summer tour to England, having not been cleared for selection by the integrity committee. Though the board has made no official comment and not charged the players, it is understood it has concerns about the trio.

Accordingly, none have been picked for various squads; Kaneria was in the Test squad for the South Africa series but was prevented from travelling by the board to the UAE at the very last minute. Akmal even wrote to the ICC to ask whether he was the subject of any corruption inquiry or case and was subsequently told there was nothing on him.

The integrity committee asked the players to submit details of their bank accounts, assets and property holdings from the last three years. Kaneria has done so while Malik and Akmal are understood to have submitted their details in the last week.

The ongoing inquiry has led to Pakistan delaying the naming of their 30 probables for the 2011 World Cup. Ordinarily, Akmal and Malik would be automatic selections in the 30 and more than likely in the final 15 as well, but the ICC has granted Pakistan an extension until January 5 to decide.

After the meeting, chaired by board chairman Ijaz Butt and attended by senior board officials, the selection committee will sit down, likely on Friday, to give shape to the ODI squad for the New Zealand series as well as the World Cup probables.