LAHORE, July 11: Veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, experienced wicket-keeper/batsman Kamran Akmal and aggressive opener Imran Nazir were the notable inclusions while the national selection committee kept Misbah-ul-Haq out of the shortest version as the 30-member preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 extravaganza was announced on Wednesday.

The World Twenty20 is scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka in September-October this year.

Recently, it was reported that national team’s coach Dav Whatmore had recommended the name of 38-year-old Misbah, who was sidelined from the T20 format by the PCB prior to Pakistan’s ongoing tour to Sri Lanka.

However, the coach’s advice could not convince the authorities concerned over Misbah who although possesses a solid batting average of 37.52 in 39 Twenty20 games, but whose laid-back, sluggish approach on crucial occasions — apparently owing to growing age — has put the team’s interest at stake.

Interestingly, Misbah, looking to end his T20 career on a high in the September-October World Twenty20, has not announced retirement from the game’s shortest format.

Kamran, 30, who last represented the country in the 2011 World Cup, had remained in wilderness as the PCB was not convinced about his performance behind the stumps, a worry that continued to haunt Pakistan’s cause in last year’s World Cup too. Earlier, he was sidelined because the ICC had started a fixing probe that also scanned his role in the 2010 World Twenty20. Later however, Kamran — with 137 ODIs and 38 Twenty20s under his belt — was cleared by the game’s world governing body.

Now he has been finally cleared by the PCB’s integrity committee too after the 53-Test veteran appeared before the committee earlier this month. It is to be noted that chief selector Iqbal Qasim had already included Kamran’s name in the probables’ list with the condition of clearance by the integrity committee.

The 30-year-old Imran Nazir, who has been inducted into the probables’ list, has featured in 16 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan so far.

The attacking opener’s last T20 match for Pakistan was against England in February 2010 at Dubai. Holding a batting average of 23.14 and an attractive strike rate of 137.87 in Twenty20 Internationals, Imran’s inconsistent show with the bat in international contests has remained a concern for the richly-talented batsman and the management alike.

Razzaq, 32, with heaps of limited-overs experience in the form of 265 ODIs and 26 Twenty20 Internationals, has been recalled due to his proven all-round capabilities at the highest level. The calm-looking yet extremely dangerous hitter on his day last played for Pakistan in the Twenty20 format against New Zealand at Christchurch in December 2010.

Though it was reported recently that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf was considering a discussion on whether to include controversial wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider in the list, the selection committee did not give its approval in this regard.

It is noteworthy that while as many as eight openers have been named in the list, only five probables form the middle-order department.

The openers’ array includes Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Imran Nazir, Shahzaib Hasan, Awais Zia, Sharjeel Khan. Whereas Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik and Rameez Raja Junior were picked as middle-order willow holders.

Besides Razzaq two other all-rounders selected in the initial squad are veteran Shahid Afridi and young Hammad Azam. Eight fast bowlers — Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema and Anwar Ali — are the pacemen named in the preliminary squad for the mega event.

Only three spinners — Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and upcoming Raza Hasan — are in the run for final selection.

Two glovemen namely Sarfraz Ahmed, Shakeel Ansar besides Kamran, have made the probables’ list.

The final 15-member squad for the World Twenty20 will be announced by Aug 15.

Probables:

Openers: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Imran Nazir, Shahzaib Hasan, Awais Zia, Sharjeel Khan. Middle-order batsmen: Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Rameez Raja Jr.

All-rounders: Shahid Afridi, Hammad Azam, Abdul Razzaq.

Fast bowlers: Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Anwar Ali. Spinners: Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Raza Hasan.

Wicket-keepers: Sarfraz Ahmed, Kamran Akmal, Shakeel Ansar.