Selector Inzamam names nephew Imam in squad for Sri Lanka ODIs

Chief national selector and former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq included nephew Imam-ul-Haq in the 15-member squad for the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka starting in Dubai next week. Opening batsman Imam is the nephew of Inzamam, who now heads the selection committee. "Imam has been selected in the squad keeping his performance in the domestic circuit in view and to give a chance to a youngster in the home conditions," said a PCB release.

50 Overs Sami Aslam: Runs 2522, Avg 48.50, SR 87.29, Hundreds 8, Sixes 27 Imam-ul-Haq: Runs 866, Avg 36.08, SR 74.14, Hundreds 1, Sixes 1

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 6, 2017

Pakistan have made only one change from the side which won the Champions Trophy in England in June this year, bringing in the uncapped 21-year-old Imam. Imam, who has played 31 and 24 first-class and List A matches respectively, had featured in the 2014 Junior World Cup held in the UAE.

"If you say he is my nephew then it was difficult," Inzamam on the Imam-ul-Haq selection: https://t.co/kP9mbf67Hm

— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) October 6, 2017

Pakistan rested Azhar Ali  to give the opener time to recover from a knee problem, selectors said Friday. The 32-year-old is featuring in the second and final Test match in Dubai on Friday only after having injections to relieve the pain. Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side.

- Imam ul Haq's performance in the last couple years has been good: Chief selector Inzamam ul Haq negates a 'favour' to his nephew.

— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) October 6, 2017

The first of five one-day internationals starts in Dubai on Friday, followed by matches in Abu Dhabi (October 16 and 18) and Sharjah (October 20 and 23). Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also play three Twenty20 internationals, two in Abu Dhabi (October 26 and 27) while the last one is set to be held in Lahore on October 29, subject to security clearance.

Plz don't criticise Imam ul Haq only because he is a nephew of @InziTheLegend . He is a very good opening batter and a quality fielder

— Atiq-uz-Zaman (@Atiq160Test) October 6, 2017

The return of Sri Lanka is of huge importance to cricket-mad Pakistan. A deadly militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009 was responsible for finally driving out cricket and other international sports from the country after years of security fears. Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq