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Pakistan's national selection committee axed flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi and pacer Sohail Tanvir from the 15-man squad.

Afridi and Tanvir were axed from the first Test squad against Sri Lanka, as the selectors preferred to give rookie players Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammad Talha a chance.

Tanvir's omission a surprise

The decision to drop Afridi from the squad was hardly a surprise considering that he has struggled for form in recent months despite being a regular member of the one-day squad.

But the decision to sideline left-arm pacer Tanvir comes as a surprise as after a poor one-day series against Sri Lanka, he bounced back well in domestic cricket.

The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be played from Saturday at the National Stadium.

Chief selector Abdul Qadir said the decision to drop Afridi did not mean he was completely out of contention for the series.

"He is a very senior player and it was a very difficult decision to drop him. But we didn't want a situation where he was in the 15-member squad and not picked in the final playing eleven. It would have been humiliating for a senior player like him," Qadir said.

He said fast bowler Mohammad Talha and opener Shahzad deserved a chance as both had been doing well in domestic cricket.

watch New Zealand vs India 1st Twenty20 live streaming

World champions India are worried more about the New Zealand weather than the composition of the New Zealand team.

The Indians face Daniel Vettori's men when they take on New Zealand in the first Twenty20 cricket international at the AMI Park on Wednesday.

The advent of autumn has seen the temperatures drop and there have been sporadic spells of rain, which have offset India's preparation for the match.

Cold windy factor could unruffle Indians 

More than the Black Caps' resilience and home advantage, it will be this cold-windy factor which could ruffle Mahendra Singh Dhoni's all-conquering legion.

Given their streak of success in this format and the plethora of talent they have in their ranks, India start as hot favorites in the two-match Twenty20 series.

While New Zealand have two potential match-winners in Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram, who was specifically included in the squad to provide thrust to the not-so-powerful batting, India have an array of explosive batsmen who can turn the match on its head.

watch New Zealand vs India 1st Twenty20 live streaming

World champions India are worried more about the New Zealand weather than the composition of the New Zealand team.

The Indians face Daniel Vettori's men when they take on New Zealand in the first Twenty20 cricket international at the AMI Park on Wednesday.

The advent of autumn has seen the temperatures drop and there have been sporadic spells of rain, which have offset India's preparation for the match.

Cold windy factor could unruffle Indians

More than the Black Caps' resilience and home advantage, it will be this cold-windy factor which could ruffle Mahendra Singh Dhoni's all-conquering legion.

Given their streak of success in this format and the plethora of talent they have in their ranks, India start as hot favorites in the two-match Twenty20 series.

While New Zealand have two potential match-winners in Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram, who was specifically included in the squad to provide thrust to the not-so-powerful batting, India have an array of explosive batsmen who can turn the match on its head.

India have two explosive openers in Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who will be backed by the king of Twenty20, Yuvraj Singh, who continues to flog the bowlers across the parks as if he were batting in the backyard of his Chandigarh home.

Then there is Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan, who is imminently capable of clearing the grounds in New Zealand. Be it seam or spin, they have the knack and chutzpah to scatter the field and produce boundaries.

Besides, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma are batsmen who are capable of winning matches on their own on their day.

Watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 5 Live Streaming

Pakistan's national selection committee axed flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi and pacer Sohail Tanvir from the 15-man squad.

Afridi and Tanvir were axed from the first Test squad against Sri Lanka, as the selectors preferred to give rookie players Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammad Talha a chance.

Tanvir's omission a surprise

The decision to drop Afridi from the squad was hardly a surprise considering that he has struggled for form in recent months despite being a regular member of the one-day squad.

But the decision to sideline left-arm pacer Tanvir comes as a surprise as after a poor one-day series against Sri Lanka, he bounced back well in domestic cricket.

The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be played from Saturday at the National Stadium.

Chief selector Abdul Qadir said the decision to drop Afridi did not mean he was completely out of contention for the series.

"He is a very senior player and it was a very difficult decision to drop him. But we didn't want a situation where he was in the 15-member squad and not picked in the final playing eleven. It would have been humiliating for a senior player like him," Qadir said.

He said fast bowler Mohammad Talha and opener Shahzad deserved a chance as both had been doing well in domestic cricket.

Watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Live Streaming

Pakistan's squad landed in the UK yesterday to find English cricket at its lowest ebb for several years. Inzamam-ul-Haq's men started England's post-Ashes recession, when they came back from an apparently hopeless position to win at Multan. Now they have a chance to accelerate the slide.

If Pakistan had a full hand of pace bowlers, it would be hard to see England out-playing them over this four-Test series (which starts at Lord's on July 13). But Inzamam has injury problems of his own. Shoaib Akhtar has a stress fracture in his ankle, which should restrict him to commentary stints until the final stages of the tour. And Rana-ul-Naved has a sore groin, presumably sustained while pulling up one too many trees for Sussex in April and May.

Pakistan will not decide until Wednesday whether Naved will even be named in the side. It has been suggested that he, like Ashley Giles, has been suffering from the condition known as Gilmore's Groin.

Watch 1st Test Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf said "seniority" was the main criterion in deciding the contracts which saw Akhtar named in the top 'A' category with captain Shoaib Malik, vice-captain Misbahul Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Danish Kaneria.

He missed out on a central contract last year following Pakistan's Test and one-day series defeats in India in 2007, when he was often absent through illness and injury.

Angered by his exclusion, Akhtar publicly criticised the PCB and was handed the ban before its reduction on appeal.

The talented and fiery Akhtar has taken 178 Test wickets in a chequered international career that began in 1997. He tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October 2006, although his two-year ban was overturned on appeal.

1st Test Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming

Shoaib Akhtar awarded central contract by Pakistan Cricket Board

Volatile fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has won back his central contract with the 

Pakistan Cricket Board after his five-year ban was reduced and later 

suspended.

Akhtar, 33, was among 26 players awarded annual contracts and will receive 

250,000 rupees (£1,700) a month plus match fees.

The move hands another chance to the controversial "Rawalpindi Express," who 

was banned after he blasted at officials for failing to give him a contract 

last January.