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Pakistan drop Kaneria

Dubai - Pakistan left Danish Kaneria out of their Test squad after cricket authorities did not clear the leg-spinner for the two Test series against South Africa, official said Sunday.

"PCB did not give clearance to Kaneria so now I will meet the Test captain (Misbah-ul-Haq) and coach (Waqar Younis) to decide whether they need a replacement or not," chief selector Mohsin Khan told AFP following the Pakistan Cricket Board move.

Khan did not elaborate on why Kaneria was excluded from the suqad.

Four players -- Mohammad Yousuf, Taufiq Umar, Mohammad Sami and Azhar Ali -- join the Pakistan squad in Dubai on Monday. Pakistan, who lost the two Twenty20 matches, are level at 2-2 with South Africa in the one-day series.

The final one-day match will be played in Dubai on Monday before the Test series starts.

The 29-year-old Kaneria was earlier named in the Test squad for the series starting with the first match in Dubai from November 12.

The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from November 20. The series was shifted to United Arab Emirates because of security fears in Pakistan.

Kaneria was dropped by Pakistan early in the series against England after he took just one wicket for 171 in the second Test at Nottingham.

Kaneria and his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield were under investigation for bowling deliberate no-balls and wides in a Pro40 win against Durham in September last year.

Kaneria was, however, released last month without being charged, while Westfield was facing a criminal case.

Kaneria showed his disappointment over the decision.

"I was ready to leave for Dubai but was suddenly told that I was not given clearance and that they (PCB official) will call me on Sunday and let me know the reason," Kaneria told local media.

Pakistan cricket has been rocked by spot-fixing allegations which surfaced during their national team's tour to England. Three players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- were suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last month.

The suspensions came after revelations in British tabloid The News of the World claiming several Pakistan players -- including the suspended trio -- agreed with a book-maker to bowl deliberate no-balls during the final Test against England at Lord's in August.

The ICC has ordered Pakistan to implement measures to curb alleged corruption and other problems, warning failure to clean up its act could result in sanctions.

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