Dubai: Pakistan which has a reputation of being the most unpredictable team in the world, announced their 15-member squad for the 2011 World Cup without naming their captain on Tuesday.
The team has delayed naming their captain as well as their vice-captain following the rise of Misbah Ul Haq as a strong candidate for captaincy.
Shahid Afridi, who is the One-day team captain, looks doubtful to get the post.
Sensing the mood of the selectors, Afridi before leaving for New Zealand to play in the One-day series starting on January 22, said: "I have never run after the captaincy in my entire career.
"It is something for the cricket board to decide. If they feel I am good enough to lead the team in the World Cup they will retain me if not, that is life."
Under the captaincy of Afridi, Pakistan had lost to New Zealand 2-1 in the recent Twenty20 series.
Their experienced star batsman Mohammad Yousuf, despite being named among the probables has been ignored.
The team's emphasis is on its battery of pacers which includes Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq and left-arm seamers Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir.
Pacer Tanvir Ahmad, who bowled brilliantly for Pakistan in the first Test against New Zealand, was expected to get the nod.
The team's spin attack will be led by off spinner Saeed Ajmal, and left-arm spinner Abdul Rahman with Afridi chipping in with his leg spin.
Top form
The team's batting will depend on their openers Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad to be followed by the experienced Younus Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and Afridi in the middle order. Asad Shafiq, who has been in top form with the bat, has also been included. The Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar will also add strength to their batting.
Mohsin Khan, the chairman of the selection committee, announced the team after receiving an approval from Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The six match One-day series against New Zealand starting from January 22 will provide the players the much needed match practice. A winning result can also fetch Afridi the World Cup captaincy.
Pakistan is placed in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
They will play its first match against Kenya on February 23 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.
SQUAD: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umer Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rahman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir and Ahmad Shehzad
