Sami to join Pakistan squad

Mohammad Sami, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been called up to join the one-day squad as a replacement for Shoaib Akhtar, who has been ruled out of the five-match series against India due to an ankle injury. Sami will join the squad later today and will be available for selection for the last two games, on Thursday and Sunday.

Sami played the first Test of the series against India, but was dropped after putting in a listless performance, conceding 67 from just 12 overs. Though his career one-day stats are impressive - 105 wickets in 74 ODIs at 28.43 - his recent form has been dismal: in his last 15 matches, Sami has managed just 12 wickets at an exorbitant average of 52, and an economy rate of more than five. With Pakistan's back-up seamers - Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul - performing well, Sami was forced into the sidelines. Shoaib's injury offers him another opportunity to translate his undoubted potential into performance at the international level.