PTI
 
Karachi, Oct 8: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Tuesday recalled to a new-look Pakistani side announced for the four-nation international Twenty20 tournament in Toronto, Canada.

The 15-member squad, due to leave for Toronto on Wednesday night, was named after much delay because the Canadian High Commission had refused visas to atleast three players including senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

Sources confirmed Yousuf didn’t get a visa because the embassy officials had raised questions about his religious "Tableegi" tours in recent times to Canada and to Pakistans troubled northern areas.

But apart from Yousuf, who had finally won the favour of the selectors, there were other surprises in the team with three rookie players included for the first time.

The selectors have named fast bowler Anwar Ali and batsmen Khalid Latif and Shoaib Khan for the first time while calling up young Sohail Khan who has been outstanding in the ongoing national Twenty20 tournament.

The selectors have also laid lot of stress upon pace while picking the squad as they have included six pacers in the team.

The decision to recall Akhtar was not unexpected as he had bowled well in the national championship and expressed his keenness to play again for Pakistan.

His inclusion comes even though he has filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court against a 18-month ban and seven million rupees fine imposed on him by an appellate tribunal of the Cricket Board.

His last appearance for Pakistan was in December last year in India.

The High Court is due to hold a hearing on Wednesday to rule on a application filed by the Board seeking directives whether the fast bowler can play for Pakistan without first paying the fine.

Squad:

Shoaib Malik (Capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Fawad Alam, Sohail Khan, Khalid Latif, Abdur Rauf, Shoaib Khan and Anwar Ali.