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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 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test 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

Pakistan's batsmen are not as badly afflicted as the bowlers, but Shoaib Malik - an opener and off-spinner - will probably be ruled out unless his elbow problem clears up overnight.

The middle order is the heart of the team, with Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq all ranked in the top 10.

Once the opposition have disposed of that adhesive trio, their bowlers are usually so tired that Afridi can come in and wreak merry hell.

Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper, is also capable of blistering strokeplay, as he proved by scoring consecutive one-day centuries against England last winter.