Afridi, Umar Akmal back as Pakistan announce squad for West Indies

LAHORE: Pakistan Wednesday axed former captain Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and opener Imran Farhat for this month's limited-overs series in the West Indies, but dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was back in the team.

Selectors made four changes in the one-day team which crashed out of last month's eight-nation Champions Trophy in England, losing all three games due to sloppy batting.

Malik managed just 25 runs in three matches, Kamran scored 23 in the same number and Farhat scored four in two. Pakistan failed to cross the 170-mark in any of their games.

Efficient Pakistan ease to facile win

Pakistan 207 for 4 (Farhat 56, Hafeez 54 retired) beat South Africa 202 for 9 (McLaren 55, Duminy 43, Wahab 3-30, Asad 3-30) by six wickets.

There were enough Pakistan supporters at The Oval to give the impression that this warm-up ahead of the Champions Trophy mattered, but in essence it was pointless, not just in terms of the group stages but also in the general scheme of things.

Pakistan will claim a psychological advantage after breezing to a six-wicket victory against South Africa with more than four overs to spare, they were vastly superior throughout and their supporters celebrated a well-drilled victory with their usual enthusiasm, but it will not much matter in the morning.