KARACHI, April 6 (AFP) - Experienced batsman Salim Malik, whose career has been dogged by match-fixing allegations, won a last-minute reprieve as he was included in Pakistan's 15-man cricket World Cup squad announced Tuesday.Malik, accused by Australian stars Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May of offering them money to throw a 1994 Test match, was included on the insistence of current captain Wasim Akram. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squad in Lahore. 
                 Malik had not been included in a provisional 19-man squad for the tournament, to be played between May 14-June 20 in England. 
 The 33-year-old batsman, a veteran of three previous cups, said: ''I am thrilled to be back in the team. When I thought all was lost lady luck again smiled at me. I want to make the World Cup as memorable as possible and will retire after the event.'' 
                 A Pakistani investigation had exonerate Malik in 1995. 
 But he was left out of the national side for a year up to September 1998 following further allegations. Wasim Akram is himself being investigated following other match-fixing claims. 
                 Pakistan also included pace bowler Waqar Younis and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in their World Cup squad. 
 The pair, like Malik, have been struggling for form and were dropped for the ongoing three-nation tournament between Pakistan, India and England in Sharjah.
                 The squad comprises seven specialist batsmen, three pace bowlers, two spinners, a  wicketkeeper and two all-rounders.                  The Pakistan Cricket Board rejected reports of delays in choosing the squad and denied it had bowed to pressure. ''There was no delay in the announcement and the Board complied to the extended dates as agreed between Pakistan Board and England and Wales Cricket Board,'' officials said. 
                 There have been reports the board has been badly split over how to procede during a string of probes into cricket corruption in the country. Aamir Sohail, Wasim Akram's predecessor as captain, earlier claimed he was axed from the World Cup team after refusing to keep quiet over match-fixing. 
                 Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Salim Malik, Ejaz Ahmed, Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq are the six survivors of the team that won the 1992 world cup in Australia under Imran Khan. 
                 Pakistan will start the world cup campaign with a match against West Indies in Bristol, England on May 16. 

              Team: Wasim Akram (captain), Moin Khan (vice capt), Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwer, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ejaz Ahmed, Inzamam ul-Haq, Yousuf Yohanna, Salim Malik, Shoaib Akhter, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mehmood, Abdul Razzak, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis. 
 

Gabba Test: Australia defeat Pakistan by 10 wickets...............

Perth Test: 
Australia defeat Pakistan by an inning and 21 runs.