ISLAMABAD: Misbah-ul-Haq will lead the Quetta-Multan Region team while Rao Iftikhar has been named ahead of Shoaib Akhtar to lead the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Region in the Pentangular Cup Cricket, that is set to start from October 22.

The top five teams of the country are to compete in the premier tournament that is expected to be televised live.

Shoaib Malik will skipper the Punjab team while all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been named captain of the Sindh team. Younis Khan will lead North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Though Shoaib Akhtar has succeeded in making it to the Pakistan team, there is no place for the talented Najaf Shah and upcoming Mohammad Aamer in the five teams finalised by the selectors in coordination with the Regional heads.

Barring the injury period, Najaf has been outstanding in the national tournaments in recent past. “Some of the selectors did speak against Najaf without knowing that he had got immaculate record whenever and where he was asked to play. It is hard to believe that such a talented fast bowler would not be seen in action in the Pentangular cricket.

“Same is the case with Aamer. Wasim Akram spoke highly of him and advocated his direct entry into the national team. Surprisingly, he would even miss a berth on the Rawalpindi and Islamabad combined team,” a former Test cricketer said.

Also missing the cut is another talented all-rounder Yasim Murtaza.

Meanwhile, the following players would make the Rawalpindi-Islamabad team for the event.

Squad: Rao Iftikhar (captain), Sohail Tanvir (vice-captain), Raheel Majeed, Afaq Rahim, Umair Khan, Bazid Khan, Naved Ashraf, Ashar Zaidi or Fayyaz Ahmed, Usman Saeed, Umar Amin, Naeem Anjum, Imad Wasim, Shoaib Akhtar, Yasir Arafat and Yasir Ali.

Reserves: Shahzad Rana, Jamal Anwar and Mohammad Aamer. Sabih Azhar (coach), Nasir Iqbal (manager), Rauf Mirza (fielding coach).