Steelers
13-10-05, 05:05 PM
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been left out of the World XI side to face Australia in the six-day Super Test at the SCG, which starts on Friday.
Akhtar, who battled for both form and fitness in the recent ODI Johnnie Walker Super Series and was omitted from the final match, was the unlucky man to miss out from the 13-man squad.
A decision on the final 11 will be made shortly before the toss on Friday morning, with South African pair Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis likely to be the ones contesting for the second all-rounder spot after Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff's England counterpart Steve Harmison is the likely beneficiary of Akhtar's omission, with the World XI expected to go with two spinners, Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori.
The Australian side will be announced on Friday morning with the home side also likely to go with two spinners.
World XI squad
Graeme Smith (South Africa, captain), Virender Sehwag (India), Rahul Dravid (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Andrew Flintoff (England), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Mark Boucher (South Africa), Steve Harmison (England), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Source: www.sportal.com.au
Akhtar, who battled for both form and fitness in the recent ODI Johnnie Walker Super Series and was omitted from the final match, was the unlucky man to miss out from the 13-man squad.
A decision on the final 11 will be made shortly before the toss on Friday morning, with South African pair Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis likely to be the ones contesting for the second all-rounder spot after Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff's England counterpart Steve Harmison is the likely beneficiary of Akhtar's omission, with the World XI expected to go with two spinners, Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori.
The Australian side will be announced on Friday morning with the home side also likely to go with two spinners.
World XI squad
Graeme Smith (South Africa, captain), Virender Sehwag (India), Rahul Dravid (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Andrew Flintoff (England), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Mark Boucher (South Africa), Steve Harmison (England), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Source: www.sportal.com.au