May 05, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 28, 1429

KARACHI, May 4: A 15-man squad to represent Pakistan at next month’s triangular one-day cricket series in Bangladesh is expected to be announced by May 22, Dawn learnt on Sunday.

According to sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board, chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmed and members Saleem Jaffer and Shafqat Rana have advised to pick the squad 17 days before the tournament in Dhaka.

The tri-series, also featuring India, begins in Dhaka with Pakistan playing hosts Bangladesh in the opening match on June 8. India then play Bangladesh on June 10 before facing arch-rivals Pakistan two days later.

The final is scheduled to be played on June 14. All four games in the week-long event take place at the Shere

Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, situated 10 kilometres outside Dhaka.

Further the sources said, the national selection committee has also been asked to name a 15-man squad for the Asia Cup tournament, which is being hosted for the first time by Pakistan, from June 24 to July 6.

The selectors are expected to announce the Asia Cup team by June 16 after taking the input of Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson.

Malik is currently representing Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, while Lawson has headed home to Sydney where he is spending time with his family.

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are the other countries taking part in the Asia Cup. Ten of the 13 matches in the tournament will be played in Karachi with Lahore staging the three Group ‘A’ fixtures.